KUALA LUMPUR: After more than 13 hours, the 48-year-old woman who fell into an eight- metre sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India has still not been found.
As of 10pm yesterday, the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the Indian national was still ongoing.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said strong water currents running under where the sinkhole appeared are complicating the search.
“The SAR team has thoroughly searched the area, but we haven’t found her yet. So now it will be done in stages through working with Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) based on its sewer plans.
“We have to proceed cautiously because any disruption could lead to flooding. We’ve been advised by the Fire and Rescue Department and IWK to handle this methodically.
Concerted efforts: Rescue teams working together as crowds gathered in Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
“We also need to consider the gas pipes below, so we can’t just enter the area. We are hopeful that we might locate her by tonight, ideally alive,” Comm Rusdi told reporters at the scene.
Currently, management of the scene involves the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Fire and Rescue Department and IWK, he said, adding that there have been no extraordinary measures taken yet.
The police, he said, are relying on the expertise of these authorities for road closures and other concerns to ensure public safety and security.
Comm Rusdi said the search will focus on the chamber with strong currents where the victim is believed to be trapped.
He also mentioned a previous sinkhole incident at the same location that had been repaired.
Closed-circuit television footage shows the victim walking with her family when a piece of the pavement near Malayan Mansion caved in, plunging her into the sinkhole.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department received the distress call at 8.22am and 15 firefighters from two stations were dispatched to the scene.
“From what we know, the victim is a tourist who has been here for two months, and tomorrow (today) was supposed to be her last day in the country before returning to India,” said Comm Rusdi, who also urged the press to give some space to the victim’s family.
He added that the authorities would assist the victim’s family members by giving them timely updates and communicating with the Indian High Commission on their visa extension.
Serious task: Rescue team members getting down into the sinkhole. — Photo taken from Jabatan Penerangan WPKL/Facebook
Operations commander Mohd Riduan Akhbar said the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) and K9 unit are on site.
Due to the presence of a concrete stool that also fell into the hole, rescuers are using a DBKL crane to aid in the search, as it is believed that the stool may have fallen on the victim.
