By: ZAki Salleh
IPOH: A heavy downpour this afternoon caused flash floods along Jalan Gopeng near Simpang Pulai Heights, bringing traffic to a crawl and leaving motorists stranded.
The incident, which occurred at about 4.15 pm, rendered the stretch impassable for light vehicles after floodwaters submerged a large portion of the road.
The situation led to a traffic snarl stretching nearly 5km, from the affected area up to the traffic lights at Taman Bersatu.
It was learnt that the congestion also spread to the Simpang Pulai toll plaza exit, further compounding the frustration of road users.
A video of the incident was shared with Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic, showing vehicles struggling to manoeuvre through the inundated section.
The flooding is believed to have been caused by the low-lying road structure, which allows rainwater to accumulate quickly but drains away slowly into the nearby system.
Residents and motorists have voiced their frustration, saying that the problem has persisted for years and occurs almost every time there is heavy rain.
Despite repeated complaints to the authorities, no comprehensive solution has been implemented so far.
Road users are urging the relevant agencies to take immediate steps to improve the drainage system and upgrade the road structure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
