KUALA LUMPUR (June 27): Fifty Taman Sri Muda flood victims have filed a suit against the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), Putrajaya and eight others seeking RM3.7 million in damages for the devastating floods that hit the neighbourhood last December.

In their statement of claim sighted by theedgemarkets.com, the resident plaintiffs are also suing the director-general of the Meteorological Department, director-general of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and the Selangor state government.

The plaintiffs claim that Nadma had failed to ensure the assignment of officers at the relevant central points to facilitate the smooth handling of the disaster.

They also claim that Nadma had failed to ensure all districts, states and the federal level had the relevant resources needed to conduct search and rescue as well as to provide supplies in a swift and efficient manner.

Nadma's breach of duty and negligence had caused the plaintiffs loss and damage, they allege, and are seeking a declaration that the agency had failed to implement natural disaster management.

They are also suing the director-general of the Meteorological Department and seeking a declaration that the department had failed in an effective and timely manner to warn them of the bad weather phenomenon which led to the said floods.

The plaintiffs are also suing the director-general of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for failing to ensure compliance with stormwater management requirements prior to the granting of approvals for new development projects in and surrounding Taman Sri Muda, and also seeking a declaration that the department had wrongfully allowed the drainage system of Taman Sri Muda to be overloaded, which had caused or exacerbated the floods.

The suit also included Putrajaya and the Selangor state government as they are "vicariously liable" for some of the defendants named in the suit, the plaintiffs contend.

Among others, the plaintiffs are claiming RM3,767,148.51 in special damages, general and aggravated damages and costs.

The suit was filed by Messrs Tanes, Khoo & Paulraj at the Shah Alam High Court on June 22.

Lawyers V Vemal Arasan, Gurdial Singh Nijar, M Kula Segaran and James Joshua Paulraj are acting for the plaintiffs on a pro bono basis.

Case management for the matter is fixed for July 25.