MARAN: Those planning to travel to the Sri Marathandavar Aalayam temple in Sungai Jerik near here are advised to postpone their trip after the temple was hit by floods yesterday.
Non-stop rain since Saturday (Jan 6) resulted in Sungai Jerik flowing behind the temple to burst its banks about 11pm yesterday, sending floodwaters gushing into the temple premises and surrounding areas.
Temple president Datuk K. Tamil Selven said the temple building was under 0.6m of water while the compound was submerged in 1.3m-deep floodwaters.
"Non-stop rain over 48 hours since Dec 6 caused the river water to overflow and submerge the nearby low-lying areas last night. The roads towards the temple are impassable to all vehicles....the temple is now closed until further notice.
"The temple office, cafeteria and other buildings within the temple compound are partly submerged under 0.7m of water. The row of shops in front of the temple are also submerged," he said when contacted today.
Tamil Selven said since some sections of the temple building were raised during the renovation works last year, it was spared from being submerged in the floods.
Meanwhile, he said the rain has stopped and the murky flood water displayed a receding trend, and would take about two days to completely recede.
"Once the situation improves, the management will carry out cleaning up works and wash the premises before allowing devotees to return to the temple," he said.
Those planning to visit the temple can obtain updates on the flood situation at Sri Marathandavar Aalayam Maran's Facebook page.
During the floods in 2021, the temple was submerged in 3m-deep murky water for several days resulting in losses estimated at more than RM1 million.
In August last year, less than two months after the temple's Maha Kumbhabhisekam (consecration ceremony), the premises was hit by flash floods but water did not enter the main temple building.
On Feb 11 last year, the temple management met Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Putrajaya and raised concerns about the perennial floods.
The 132-year-old octagon-shaped temple attracts some 500,000 Hindu devotees annually during the annual 'Panguni Uthiram' festival between March and April.