Kuala lumpur: The search and rescue (SAR) mission for a 49-year-old woman who went missing while climbing Gunung Batu Putih on May 23 resumed this morning with the deployment of a new operations team comprising eight personnel.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad stated that the latest rescue team was deployed to Bukit Berapit 2 at 9.15 am today aboard an AW139 helicopter. The team included eight STORM personnel and one Forestry Mountain Guide (MGP) from the first rescue team that entered Gunung Batu Putih on May 25 and exited safely this morning after encountering heavy rain and strong winds at Berapit 2 during the night.

The operation remains focused around the Gunung Raya area based on clues discovered earlier. Yesterday, the discovery of a water bottle and supplement packets believed to belong to the missing hiker, Jaslinda Saludin, at Gunung Batu Putih provided the latest lead to the SAR team. These items were found along the route leading to Gunung Raya, where the victim is believed to have strayed from the original hiking trail.

Jaslinda was reported to have begun the Trans Spencer Chapman hike at 2 am on May 23 with 13 other individuals and two MGPs via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route. She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health problems and stopped. However, Jaslinda was reported to have continued her ascent to the mountain peak and was last seen by an MGP at 7.30 am on Sunday.