A married couple from Astana plans to seek compensation through the court for a new Mercedes worth 35 million tenge, which stalled on a flooded street during a heavy downpour, reports the website infohub.kz.
The incident occurred in the new part of the right bank of the capital. According to the owners, the car, purchased about a month ago, was flooded at one of the intersections, after which the engine stalled and all the electrical systems in the cabin shut down. The car is now at a dealership, where specialists are assessing the extent of the damage.
The owners said they went on vacation right after the purchase and soon after returning got caught in a heavy rain. "The section was not closed off. A wave from passing cars engulfed us, and the engine stalled. Then all the electrical systems in the cabin shut down. We bought the car for 35 million tenge, and the repair will cost approximately 25-30 million," said the car owner, Anara Doldyrina.
According to her, specialists at the dealership are preparing an official report. The owners believe that restoring the car is economically unfeasible.
Auto mechanic Oleg Bulakh also believes that the consequences of the flooding may manifest even after repairs. "At the very least, it's replacing all fluids, drying the interior, and a complete teardown. Even if you dry it, it will still warp. Mold will form sooner or later. Water got into the wiring. No matter how you dry it, in a year or two serious problems will arise: the turn signal won't work, the brake light won't work, the wipers won't work. Worse, it could short-circuit and catch fire," the specialist stated.
The couple is now consulting with lawyers to assess the prospects of going to court. "If the car was parked and there was flooding due to a natural disaster, the case can be considered. You can file a lawsuit based on an independent assessment against the akimat, that is, the owner of the territory. There have been precedents, but they are few," explained auto lawyer Alisher Shukenov. He added that if the car was damaged while moving along a flooded road, obtaining compensation is significantly more difficult.
Local residents claim that this area regularly ends up under water after heavy rains. The car owners are waiting for the expert assessment, after which they will decide on further actions.