ROMPIN: The search for Nur Hafizah Zailan, who went missing after she was swept away by strong currents while crossing a suspension bridge at Kampung Aur, Bukit Ibam, near here on March 3, has been suspended.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Azahari Mukhtar said the search operation ended on March 31 and will be only reactivated if there are new leads or information on the missing woman.
"The search and rescue (SAR) operation was conducted between March 3 and March 16 before being expanded to areas along the river and its surrounding areas till last week," he said when contacted today.
On March 3, Nur Hafizah, a religious teacher with the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, was reported missing after she was swept away by strong currents while trying to cross the suspension bridge during the floods in the area about 4am.
She was returning home to rescue her cats after learning that floodwaters had entered her home which was across the river.
The SAR operations involved the police, Muadzam Shah fire station, Civil Defence Force, Royal Malaysian Navy and nearby villagers were conducted for 14 days before being expanded.
Meanwhile, a state Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said divers have been searching the river near the suspension bridge to no avail.
"Besides searching the river along Sungai Kampung Aur and Sungai Gadak in Muadzam Shah, the SAR members had scoured the river bank and nearby forest areas which were inundated by floodwaters. They had entered the jungle on foot with the K9 tracker dog units.
"The authorities will be in contact with the villagers and if there is a fresh lead, we will resume the search operation," he said, adding the search operation was conducted for 29 days since March 3.