KUALA LUMPUR – The five Hash House Harriers (3H) who were reported missing on Bukit Kledang in Ipoh, yesterday, have returned safely, the Fire and Rescue Department said tonight.
The department’s branch in Meru Raya, Ipoh, said the hikers, who are from the 3H Ipoh chapter, found their way out of the forest on their own at about 7.15pm today.
They had gone into the forest yesterday afternoon to set a trail for a hash run that was to have taken place this morning, but which was cancelled after they failed to return yesterday evening.
The five who went missing were Silver City 3H’s grandmaster A. Gunasundram, 68, as well as members L. Asokomar (67), N. Visva (47), V.R. Sauthiri Kannan (45), and V. Kishu Kumar (33).
Silver City 3H assistant secretary, Ramesh Periasamy, had told Scoop earlier that the members were experienced hikers, and used to existing trails in the Bukit Kledang area.
They were to have reached a rendezvous point at Bukit Kledang’s foothill by 7pm yesterday, after beginning their hike earlier at 2.30pm.
A search began last at 2.30am after they were reported missing to the police. Different teams were mobilised after none of the five were located as of 7.20am this morning.
The Fire and Rescue Department made contact with them this afternoon, and reported them to be in a safe condition despite not being able to continue their hike down the hill due to heavy rain.
With the return of the five hikers, Meru Raya Fire Department chief Sharudi Muhamad Halil said the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation officially concluded at 7.50pm.
Besides Fire and Rescue Department officers, others in the search were the police, Forestry Department officers and several Silver City 3H members. – December 17, 2023