KAJANG – A 9-year-old girl, Nur Qaseh Deandra Mohd Qayyum, is feared missing after she was believed to have been swept away by a strong water current while trying to retrieve a ball that fell into a drain in Bandar Mahkota Cheras here on Friday evening.
According to her mother, Nordina Zulkarnain, 34, the area near their apartment, including the field and playground, is a common place where children usually spend their free time, especially during school holidays. She said the location was familiar to her daughter, as it was where she often played with friends.
“Memang itu tempat dia selalu bermain,” she said, expressing deep sadness over the incident.
Nordina said her daughter went out to play with other children living in the same apartment complex. However, the situation changed suddenly when she was informed of the incident by her second son, who rushed back home after the tragedy occurred.
“Selepas kejadian berlaku, abang mangsa yang juga anak kedua saya naik ke rumah dan memaklumkan perkara itu kepada saya serta suami,” she said when met at the scene on Saturday.
Her husband immediately contacted emergency services to seek assistance. Search and Rescue (SAR) operations were activated shortly after, with firefighters and rescue teams deployed to the location.
The SAR operation has now entered its second day, with teams continuing to comb the drainage system and surrounding areas in hopes of locating the child.
Nordina added that several items found during the search, including a slipper and a ball, were confirmed not to belong to her daughter, increasing uncertainty over her whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the victim’s grandfather, Zulkarnain Ahmad, 57, said he rushed from Seremban to Kajang upon hearing the news. He described his close bond with his granddaughter and said he has been unable to sleep since the incident.
“I memang rapat dengan dia. Sejak semalam saya tak boleh tidur sebab terlalu risau,” he said, adding that he is also assisting rescue teams at the site.
Earlier reports stated that the incident occurred around 7pm, when the girl was believed to have fallen into a drain while attempting to retrieve her ball before being swept away by fast-moving water. Fire and rescue authorities received an emergency call at 7.08pm and immediately launched the SAR operation.
As the search continues, the family remains hopeful for positive news amid growing concern over the child’s fate.
