KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the female Indian national who fell into a sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India here entered its fourth day today, with search teams using a flushing technique at the site of the incident.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said the flushing technique has been carried out in stages since yesterday evening.
“However, after two rounds of flushing, the victim has still not been found. Last night, Indah Water Konsortium started flushing at the fifth manhole, which continued until 2am.
“The SAR team’s search will resume this morning,” it said in a statement today.
Checks by Bernama found the victim’s son, known as Surya, 26, was at the search site at 9am to follow the developments.
Most business premises in the area remain closed, with only a few traders starting operations at 9am this morning.
Media personnel were present at the location as early as 8am to report on the latest updates.
In the Friday morning incident, the Indian tourist, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, disappeared after falling into the 8m-deep hole.
She was walking to a nearby temple for breakfast when the ground suddenly caved in.
It was agreed at a meeting between the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force, police, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and Indah Water Konsortium, and chaired by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff yesterday to decide on using the flushing technique at the fifth and sixth manholes near Bank Pertanian Lebuh Pasar Besar and Kinabalu Roundabout after finding the currents at two other manholes was slow, possibly caused by blockage or debris.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has been following the progress of the operation, indicated yesterday that the search for the victim would be continued, while Dangi Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman also made similar assurances during a media conference yesterday evening, stating that the SAR team did not place any deadline on the search, which will continue till the victim is found.
Meanwhile, residents at the 160-unit Malayan Mansion flats have voiced concern over their safety as the sinkhole is not more than 50m away, and claimed the heavy rain in the past few days might affect soil structure in the area.
Maimunah, however, has provided assurances that Kuala Lumpur, including Jalan Masjid India, is safe and there is no concrete evidence to support online claims that a giant sinkhole might potentially occur in the city at any moment.
The authorities have also taken steps to establish a task force made of related agencies, including the Geology Department and the Public Works Department, to study the situation.
— Bernama
