Search and rescue members join police looking for missing New Westminster mother

Coquitlam search and rescue members have joined the search for a missingNew Westminster woman last seen by her family late Sunday.

Jim Mancell with the Coquitlamteam saidabout 10 search and rescue members have been asked to assist New Westminster policein the search for Nirla Sharma in the Queensborough neighbourhood.

"We are focusing on the hard-to-access areas, green spaces and shorelines," Mancell said.

New Westminster policesaidSharma, 44, was last seenSunday as she went to bedand is believed to have left her home Monday when a family member heard the front door chime at about 4 a.m.

Concern escalated

Police began the search after the mother-of-twofailed to turn up for work. Theysay hercase is considered high risk because her disappearance is out of character.

"That escalates our concern for her well-being. At this point, there is no obvious reason why or how she left," Sgt. Jeff Scott said in an interview Wednesday.

The Queensborough neighbourhood isbounded by the QueensboroughBridge and the north and south arms of the Fraser River. It's predominantly industrial and commercial space. Sharma went missing from her home in the 300-block of Lawrence Street, which is on the south side of the Queensborough Connector.

New Westminster's major crime unit isinvolved in the search.

Sharma's daughter,Vanessa Sharma, 20,said the family is shaken by her disappearance and doesn't know of any reason her mothermay have left.

Anyone with dashcam footage taken in the city's Queensborough neighbourhood between midnight Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday is urged to speak with police.