SUNGAI PETANI: Eighteen hikers, six of them women. were stranded about 600 metres above sea level on Gunung Jerai (Kedah Peak), near the Bukit Hangus trail yesteday, after one of the women fell and suffered injuries while climbing down.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Nur Hafizah Mohd Lokman said a distress call was received at 6.42pm and personnel from the Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene half an hour later.
Initial reports from the rescue operation commander said the incident involved six women and 12 men who were stranded after one of their female friends sustained leg injuries and could not move when she slipped.
The search and rescue operation started at 9pm with the help of forest rangers, mountain guides and the police, Nur Hafizah said.
The distance from the operation centre to the scene is about 3.4km.