THE process to recover the body of one of three workers killed in yesterday’s gantry crane collapse incident at the Sg Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) construction site in Cheras has resumed today.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Nordin Pauzi said firefighters were waiting for the contractor to stabilise the building structure, which is expected to take seven to nine hours.

“We are waiting for the contractor to carry out their work before we continue with the recovery process because the beams are heavy,” he told Bernama today.

Meanwhile, Cheras district police chief Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon said police were still deployed at the scene to monitor the situation.

“We have also set up a mobile station to facilitate monitoring and control,” he added.

Chinese nationals Ding Kunfu, Jiang Jinboa and Mu Tong Zheng were crushed to death while a motorist was seriously injured after the gantry crane toppled over at the SUKE construction site near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai in Cheras.

Two of the bodies have been recovered while that of Mu has yet to be retrieved. The driver, a local man, was admitted to the Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital.

SUKE said in a statement a detour would be opened for the duration Persiaran Alam Damai remains closed following the incident, to enable clean-up work to be done at the location, from yesterday to Sunday.

In another statement, SUKE concession holder Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) said they would ensure that the recovery, diversion and repair works at the scene are done properly and safely.

“Prolintas and SUKE will cooperate fully to identify the actual cause of the incident. Any further action to be taken will depend on the investigation by the authorities,” it said. – Bernama, March 23, 2021.