KUALA LUMPUR: The body of a 10-year-old girl was found about six kilometres from where she was swept away by strong currents after falling into a drain yesterday evening.
The victim, believed to be of Rohingya descent, was reported missing after she fell into a drain in front of the MPAJ Hall in Kampung Cheras Baru at about 6.07pm.
Ampang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Azam Ismail said the search and rescue (SAR) team, which resumed operations this morning, found the girl’s body in Sungai Kerayong, Taman Cheras Indah.
“The body was discovered about six kilometres from where the victim was last seen,” he said in a statement.
The body has been sent to the Forensic Unit of Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
It is understood that during the incident, two Rohingya children fell into the large drain and were swept away by strong currents.
One of the children was rescued by members of the public, while the other was carried away before help could arrive.
Meanwhile, the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department said in a statement that personnel from the Cheras and Bandar Tun Razak stations, including the Water Rescue Unit, rushed to the scene following a distress call at 4.23pm.
“Upon combing the area, they were unable to locate the victim. Around 7pm, the SAR was temporarily halted due to heavy rain and resumed at 9pm.
“However, after assessing the risks involved, we called off the search at almost 10pm,” it said.
This morning, the SAR, led by operations commander Mohd Riduan Akhyar, resumed at 10am at the Jalan Kuari drain but yielded no results.
The team then combed another area at 11.20am, leading to the river near Taman Maju Jaya, Cheras Indah, where they found the victim.
The child’s remains were handed over to the police.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
