An mortar shell was discovered by the side of the highway near the Menora Tunnel in Ipoh and was successfully detonated by the police on Monday (June 30). Photo courtesy of PDRM
A STARTLING discovery on a major highway can lead to significant disruptions and safety concerns.
Recently, a mortar shell was reportedly found near the Menora Tunnel on the North-South Expressway.
Is this claim accurate?
Verdict:
TRUE
Police safely detonated a mortar shell found near the Menora Tunnel along the North-South Expressway near Ipoh on Monday (June 30).
The unexploded ordnance was discovered by a 51-year-old contract worker conducting cleaning work at around 9.30am.
Perak Police Chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin confirmed the discovery, stating, "The worker was clearing trees and grass when he came across the shell."
A team from the Perak Police, including the Bomb Disposal Unit (UPB), was promptly dispatched to the site.
The shell was safely disposed of on location, with a blast radius reportedly extending up to 200m.
In response to the discovery, Plus Malaysia Berhad (Plus) issued an alert on its X platform, temporarily closing the Kuala Kangsar–Ipoh stretch in both directions at 3.02pm as a safety precaution.
"Northbound traffic was diverted to the Ipoh Selatan Toll Plaza, while vehicles heading south were rerouted to the Kuala Kangsar Toll Plaza," Plus announced. All southbound lanes were reopened to highway users by 3.44pm, and traffic flow returned to normal.
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