Published: Monday November 2, 2009 MYT 4:56:00 PM
Public advised to avoid Batu Berangkai waterfall
KAMPAR: Police have advised the public against going to the Batu Berangkai Waterfall here for picnics given the current weather.
This followed Sunday’s incident where three Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) students drowned when swept by strong currents at the waterfall.
Kampar district police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said although the place looked safe, the area could be dangerous to picnickers when it rained.
“The situation can change all of a sudden when rainwater trapped uphill flows down to the waterfall in a strong gush,” he told reporters when met at the Kampar Hospital mortuary here on Monday.
He said the victims in the 5.30pm incident were male students Yew Ghim Chnieh and James Wan Kai Khor, both aged 20 and from Penang, and female student Yew Shy Gin, 21, from Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Ghim Chnieh’s body was the last to be found. Villagers who assisted in the search and rescue operation found the body at 12.10am Monday, about 500m from where he was last seen.
James’ body was found at 10.20pm on Sunday, and that of Shy Gin about an hour later.
Abdul Aziz said he would raise the matter at the district action committee meeting so that measures could be taken to make the waterfall safer for picnickers.
Meanwhile, relatives of the Utar students who drowned were at the hospital to claim their bodies.
James’ father, Khor Ewe Kok, 51, 21, said he last met his only child about two weeks ago when he returned home for a holiday in Penang.
“He was very cheerful then. He was an active and adventurous son,” he added.
Khor said he regarded the incident which took his son’s life as fated and accepted his death.
Shy Gin’s body was claimed by her older sister and Ghim Chnieh’s body by an uncle.
Shy Gin was the youngest of three siblings, while Gim Chnieh was the eldest of three.
The incident at Batu Berangkai waterfall happened hardly a week after the Kuala Dipang bridge collapse which took three young lives. -- Bernama
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Three Utar students drown at waterfall, a fourth rescued
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