The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department has not ruled out the possibility that a young boy, believed to have fallen into a drain in Bandar Puncak Alam, may have been swept into a main river due to strong water currents.
Northern Selangor Zone 7 Fire and Rescue chief, Samsol Maarif Saibani, said the absence of debris traps along the drainage system — which connects to Sungai Buloh and eventually Sungai Selangor — is a key factor increasing the likelihood of the victim being carried further downstream. He noted that the unobstructed water flow allows strong currents to move freely, complicating search efforts.
He explained that the continuous connection from the drain to larger rivers without any barriers makes it highly possible for the victim to be swept into the main river. This has made it difficult for rescuers to locate the boy within the initial search radius, which was focused around the drain and nearby waterways.
Search and rescue (SAR) operations have now entered their second day, with no new leads discovered despite intensive efforts. So far, rescue teams have covered approximately four kilometres from the point where the boy is believed to have fallen into the drain, but no objects or signs linked to the victim have been found.
Authorities said repeated searches were conducted, including during low tide at night, but yielded no results. The situation highlights the challenges faced in such operations, particularly when environmental factors limit visibility and access.
Samsol added that strong currents and continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days have further complicated the operation. The fast-moving water has made it difficult for personnel to carry out thorough searches along the drainage and river routes.
The operation is being assisted by the K9 Unit and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, but so far there have been no positive findings. The failure of detection dogs to pick up any scent or trace has strengthened the belief that the victim may have been swept further away.
As a result, authorities plan to expand the search area by an additional seven to 10 kilometres, focusing on the riverbanks along Sungai Buloh up to its confluence with Sungai Selangor. Currently, three boats have been deployed, with more assets expected to be added to widen the search coverage.
