In a statement, Selangor CIDB director Heryanti Hilmi said the construction of 10 units of double-storey shoplots, which social media users had linked to the blast, was in fact 30 metres away from the site.

“The reports we received from the contractor revealed only sewerage works were carried out at the construction site on March 30, while housekeeping works were done the following day.”

It was reported last night that police were looking into claims that earthworks at the site may have triggered a gas pipeline fire that destroyed properties and injured scores of people.

Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari has since urged those with evidence of any wrongdoing that resulted in the gas pipeline blast to come forward.

The fire, which broke out at 8.10am at Jalan Putra Harmoni, raged for nearly eight hours before it was fully put out at 3.45 pm.

A total of 87 houses were completely damaged, while 148 were partially damaged. A total of 225 vehicles were also affected, with 174 of them slightly damaged.

Yesterday, an Umno Youth leader claimed that residents in the vicinity had expressed concern over work being carried out at the site since December.

Citing sources, the wing’s Kota Raja division chief Zaffarollah Nordin claimed a backhoe was spotted operating at the site on the first day of Raya.