KAJANG: The search and rescue operation for a nine-year-old girl who is feared to have drowned after falling into a drain in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, entered its third day on Sunday (May 3), with the search being extended to Sungai Langat.
Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Izman Adnan said the radius covered five kilometres from the incident location around Pangsapuri Sri Hijau to the end of Sungai Long, which connects to Sungai Langat.
He said the search today was also carried out from Sungai Langat, extending 24km towards the Irrigation and Drainage Department water retention pond in Putrajaya, bringing the total search radius to 29 km.
"The total rescue team today comprise 60 people from the fire brigade, the Civil Defence Force and the police, while the assets include three boats and two canoes, with a K9 unit.
"We hope to complete the search today, aided by the good weather at the moment," he told reporters at the scene of the incident here on Sunday.
Izman said Sunday's search strategy also involved the services of the K9 Unit at several strategic locations along the deep river before the Water Rescue Team dived in if there were any positive leads.
Regarding the weather, he said the sunny conditions, calm river currents, and shallow water at knee level made it much easier for members to move along the banks and waterways.
The nine-year-old girl was reported missing after falling into a drain while trying to retrieve a ball, before being swept away by the strong current following heavy rain in the incident last Friday evening.
The fire brigade received the emergency call for the incident at 7.08pm. – Bernama
