25-8-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The desperate search for a 48-year-old Indian tourist who vanished into a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India has entered its third day, as rescue teams resume operations following a brief suspension due to a lack of new leads.
Vijayaletchumy, the missing woman, was walking to a nearby temple on Friday morning when the ground beneath her feet suddenly gave way, plunging her into an eight-metre-deep chasm. The incident, which occurred at 8:22 am, has sparked a massive search and rescue (SAR) operation involving multiple agencies.
Dang Wangi district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, provided an update on the search efforts, stating that rescue teams had thoroughly examined six sewer manholes in the vicinity and conducted searches at the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) sewage plant in Pantai Dalam.
“As of 7 pm Saturday, we have found no new leads regarding the victim’s whereabouts,” ACP Sulizmie Affendy told reporters at a press conference near the scene. He added that the Royal Malaysia Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Civil Defence Force, and IWK would be holding further discussions to plan the next phase of the search, focusing on the initial location on Jalan Masjid India.
The search area has been meticulously mapped out, with six sewer manholes opened in stages since Sunday morning. These strategic locations include Wisma Yakin, Jalan Melayu, the Jalan Melayu intersection, Dataran Merdeka, Bank Pertanian Lebuh Pasar Besar, and the Kinabalu roundabout.
Despite the extensive efforts, authorities have decided against expanding the search area beyond these six manholes, as they believe the site where Vijayaletchumy fell is confined to these locations.
The incident has raised serious concerns about infrastructure safety in the bustling heart of Kuala Lumpur. Local residents and business owners in the area have expressed shock and worry, with many calling for a thorough investigation into how such a dangerous sinkhole could form in a heavily trafficked pedestrian area.
