By Dewi Abdul Rahman
SUBANG JAYA, April 11 — Feelings of trauma, sadness and stress have been communicated to the counsellors at the Selangor Counseling Centre (Pusat Kaunseling Selangor) by the victims of the Putra Heights gas pipeline blast, here.
Counsellor Mohd Yaakup Mad Napiah said ever since the centre opened a booth at the relief shelter (PPS) at the Putra Heights mosque yesterday, many people affected by the explosion have come to ask about its services and also to talk about their feelings and experiences.
“We have made appointments with those who seek help, in order to properly determine the state of their mental health. After what they’ve had to go through, we really hope they can move forward in the most positive way,” he said.
Mohd Yaakup added that many of the victims had initially been in extreme stress, but are now in recovery.
“One of the victims met with me because he could not stop thinking of the tragedy that had befallen his whole family. Now, after receiving counselling, he has decided to look ahead with renewed hope.
“We truly wish that all victims who are undergoing severe stress will come and talk to our counsellors. They can also visit the centre at Kompleks Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) in Shah Alam if they need long-term care,” Mohd Yaakup said.
He also offered counselling to the social workers who have been taking care of the victims, saying they too, may be undergoing stress and exhaustion.
“What the workers need is moral support,” he told Media Selangor.
The gas-fuelled explosion on April 1 caused a fireball that shot 30 meters into the air. The 1,000 degree inferno took eight hours for firefighters to put out.
