Two Orang Asli girls drown in river, another missing

Two Orang Asli girls drowned and another went missing in the Bidor River near Gloucester Estate today during a religious ceremony attended by 30 members of the community.

The dead girls have been identified as Sherrel Kulop, 11, and Norzehan Long Asing, 13, and the missing girl is Sherrel's younger sister Sheetel, 10, said Hilir Perak Police chief ACP Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad.

He said the girls were bathing in the river at about 10.30am when they were swept away by the current.

The bodies of Sherrel and Norzehan were found by family members not far from where they had gone into the water, he said, adding that Fire and Rescue and Civil Defence Force personnel were searching for Sheetel.

"Sherrel's body was found at 11.15am and Norzehan's, 20 minutes later. The bodies have been sent to Teluk Intan Hospital," he told Bernama when contacted.

Wan Hassan said about 30 members of the Orang Asli community, some from Sungkai, Tapah and other nearby areas, had gathered at a bank of the river yesterday for a religious ceremony.