By Fitri Hazim Hazam
SUBANG JAYA, April 4 — The police have confirmed the existence of excavation activity approximately 30 metres from the location of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights on Tuesday (April 1).
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that initial investigations found the activity involved replacement works for existing sewer pipes in the area.
He said they needed to conduct further investigations to determine whether the excavation was the cause of the explosion.
[caption id="attachment_396138" align="alignright" width="451"]
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan speaks during a press conference on the April 1 gas pipeline fire along Jalan Putra Harmoni in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 4, 2025. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
“This activity also involved the use of two heavy machines — a backhoe and an excavator — but excavation work had stopped on March 30, which was two days before the incident.
“Based on police findings, the excavator was found submerged in the hole. Whether the excavation work and the resulting hole could have triggered the gas pipeline explosion — we still need time to confirm this,” Hussein said during a press conference at the scene this evening.
He added that 56 witnesses have been called to give their statements, including contractors, workers, victims, and a security guard who was at the scene during the explosion.
“For now, we have identified one witness who was at the scene at the time of the explosion — a security guard who was also injured at a newly constructed shop lot nearby.
“So the police are gathering information from this witness, in addition to reviewing 20 dash cam video recordings submitted for investigation,” Hussein said.
The fire, involving a Petronas gas pipeline along Jalan Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, occurred at 8.10am on Tuesday and affected 1,254 individuals from 308 families.
87 houses were completely damaged and deemed uninhabitable, while 148 houses sustained damage but remained liveable after undergoing repairs.
[caption id="attachment_396134" align="aligncenter" width="1106"]
A view of damaged houses and destroyed vehicles affected by the April 1 gas pipeline fire along Jalan Putra Harmoni in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, on April 4, 2025. — Picture by MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN/MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
