GUA MUSANG: The joy of two sisters and their cousin bathing in the river turned into a tragedy when one of them was swept away by strong currents in Sungai Nenggiri, Kampung Pulau Setelu, here, yesterday.

Gua Musang district police chief Supt Sik Choon Foo said that in the 4 pm incident, the victim, identified as Nur Jannatul Alia Mohd Zamri, 13, was bathing with her sister Nur Ain, 16, and their cousin, Nur Asma Kamaruddin, 14.

He said that earlier, the victim and about 20 relatives went to the location for a picnic and bathing in the river.

“During the incident, the victim, her sister and their cousin were bathing while other family members were by the riverbank. The three girls were then swept away by strong currents before their grandfather jumped into the river to save the girls.

“Nur Ain and Nur Asma were rescued but Nur Jannatul Alia was swept away by strong currents,” he told reporters at the scene, today.

Sik said that search and rescue (SAR) operations started yesterday afternoon and continued this morning, but as at 3 pm today, the victim had yet to be located.

Meanwhile, Gua Musang Fire station chief Mohd Arifuddin Akif Mohd Noor said that the SAR operations involved firemen together with the police, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and assisted by the villagers.

“The SAR operations are carried out using 10 boats belonging to government agencies and villagers,” he said.

-- BERNAMA