Kuala Lumpur: Some 30 families in Taman Pelangi, Sentul, suffered their worst flood during Hari Raya Aidilfitri last weekend.

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who visited the area yesterday, said the culverts were not wide enough for quick drain-off of rain water, resulting in the metre-high flood on Saturday.

Samy Vellu said he had instructed the contractor working on the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke) to expand the culverts to at least twice their current width - from 0.7m to 3.1m - in a week to improve drainage.

"For those whose properties were damaged by the flood, we and the expressway concessionaire (Konsortium Lebuhraya Utara Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd or Kesturi) will give about RM2,000 to each family as compensation.

"I also saw an old house where the roof needs to berepaired and I will inform Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to help the owner," he said.

Samy Vellu said he would also direct the contractor to put up hazard lights and proper signboards to warn road users on the culvert reconstruction work.

Construciton of the 18km - long DUKE at a cost of RM750 million is expected to be completed in December next year. It is expected to reduce the traveling time from Jalan Duta to Sentul to just five minutes.

Villager Masturi Munir, 55, said Taman Pelangi had experienced minor floods before but the flood this time was worse than the "big one" which hit the city in June.