Missing Sisters Found Drowned In Sungai Jeram Hulu

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 12 (Bernama) -- Two sisters who went missing while bathing in Sungai Jeram Hulu near here were found drowned this evening.

The bodies of Nur Afiqah Shahirah Mohd Shawalluddin, 15, and Nur Shakila Shahirah Azman, 12, from Kampung Jeram were recovered at about 6 pm by the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) at a depth of four metres, some 20 metres from the scene of the incident.

Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations commander Baharum Hasim said a total of 14 personnel, including officers and PPDA members from the Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus Fire and Rescue Stations, were involved in the search for the victims.

“Search and rescue (SAR) efforts took about three hours to locate the victims due to strong currents and high tides. Both were found at the riverbed.

“The bodies were taken to Sultan Zainal Abidin Hospital (HoSZA) for post-mortems and further action,” he said when met at the scene here today.

Meanwhile, the victims’ grandmother, Esah Salleh, 76, said the family was deeply saddened by the tragedy but grateful that the bodies of her two grandchildren were recovered swiftly.

Esah said the victims’ mother, Suria Sulong, 34, a single mother with intellectual impairment, is still traumatised and has yet to fully comprehend the loss of her two children.

“My daughter has been living with me since her children were small. Apart from my daughter, Nur Afiqah Shahirah also had an intellectual impairment and studied in a special class at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Datuk Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong.

“The police called Suria to identify the bodies, but due to her disabilities, she appeared confused and kept asking who had died. It took a while to explain it to her,” she said.

Esah said that despite being deeply saddened, she has come to terms with the passing of her two grandchildren, describing it as a life’s trials.

--BERNAMA