“Mysterious Cemetery Resurfaces as Kedah’s Pedu Lake Dries Up – 100-Year-Old Secrets Revealed!”

Source: SAYS

Pedu Lake in Padang Terap, Kedah, has been hiding a century-old secret, but as the water level dropped drastically, a long-forgotten cemetery has emerged, bringing with it a wave of intrigue and mystery.

The water level at Pedu Dam has plunged to just 34.56% as of 16 August, according to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. While there’s no immediate water crisis in the state, the drastic drop has revealed a cemetery that’s believed to be over 100 years old. The eerie sight has drawn around 300 families back to Kampung Mong Gajah, where they’ve been holding prayers and tahlil for their ancestors since the graves resurfaced in early August.

Mohamad Khori Idris, a local imam, shared that villagers from nearby areas like Kampung Mong Gajah and Batu Kurau have been gathering to pay their respects. One of the villagers, Ismail Md Daud, mentioned that his grandfather was among those buried there, making this discovery a deeply personal moment for many.

But here’s the kicker – this isn’t the first time the drying lake has exposed the cemetery! Back in 2020, the same thing happened, giving families another chance to reconnect with their past and even turn the area into a spot for recreational activities like camping.

Padang Terap MP, Nurul Amin Hamid, who visited the site recently, explained that about 15 villages were submerged during the Pedu Dam project in the 1960s. However, the cemetery was never relocated because the Kedah Islamic Affairs Department and the Kedah Mufti’s Department decided it was too old to move. Now, with the cemetery back in the open, the MP offered prayers for the deceased and for the lake to be replenished, as it’s crucial for domestic and agricultural water supply in Kedah, Perlis, and Penang.

Kedah’s water situation is indeed raising eyebrows. Out of the state’s five dams, Beris Dam is completely dry, Muda Dam is barely hanging on at 8%, Padang Saga Dam is at 54%, and Ahning Dam is holding strong at 79%.

There’s been some panic among locals, but MADA chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh tried to calm the waters (pun intended) by saying there’s no need to worry unless Pedu Dam’s level falls below 15%. He assured everyone that recent cloud seeding operations were just precautionary and not a sign of an impending water shortage.

He added that, historically, water levels have dipped even lower. For example, Pedu Dam dropped to just 11% in April 1982, Muda Dam hit a shocking low of 2.7% in March 1978, and Ahning Dam was at 27% in March 2005. So, while the current situation is concerning, it’s not unprecedented.

As the water levels continue to fluctuate, all eyes are on Pedu Lake – and the secrets it might still hold beneath the surface.