KLUANG: The search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate a missing 73-year-old former commando has be intensified with 88 personnel with search in three zones.
The operation is now focused on Sungai Mengkibol, Sungai Melantai and Sungai Paloh here today.
The victim identified as Ab Manan Keri attempted to cross a drain which was inundated with water following heavy downpour at 4.15pm on Thursday (Dec 14), but fell into it.
The incident was captured by closed circuit television (CCTV) footage recovered near Dataran Tasik Kluang.
The senior citizen went missing after attending a tea reception event with the sultan of Johor and his subjects at Dataran Tasik Kluang.
It was raining heavily when the victim fell.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh said the SAR today involved several agencies and will concentrate in the riverbanks on both sides of Sungai Mengkibol and Sungai Melantai besides an underwater search at the Sungai Paloh bridge.
He said based on the current at the river, the victim is expected to be swept away about 8km from where he fell.
"It's been about 42 hours since he went missing… despite our futile efforts to locate him yesterday, we are not giving up hope yet.
"We started our search mission early this morning, with more personnel. We are conducting land and water searches using nine boats. An aerial search includes the Bukit Aman drone unit," he said.
The victim's children lodged a police report yesterday after they found his sling bag near the drain.