KUALA LUMPUR: It was another difficult day in the search for the woman who was swallowed up by a sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India on Friday, even as rescuers opened up six more sewerage manholes in the vicinity of Jalan Masjid India to facilitate search operations.
Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman said the decision to open the manholes, with assistance from Indah Water Konsortium, was made following discussions with relevant agencies to look for Vijayalaksmi, 48, a tourist from India.
“In our efforts to locate the victim, we are opening the manholes in stages, starting at Wisma Yakin, followed by Jalan Melayu, the Jalan Melayu intersection, Dataran Merdeka, Bank Pertanian on Lebuh Pasar Besar, and Jalan Kinabalu,” he told reporters at the scene yesterday.
“Around 10.30am, the first manhole was opened in front of Wisma Yakin, and a firefighter from the scuba unit was sent down, but no clues were found,” he said, adding that the search at the manholes has to be done in stages to limit the risk to rescuers.
“The first manhole near Wisma Yakin is about 100m from the sinkhole, and every other manhole is about 100m apart from each other,” he said, adding that rescuers were using every bit of expertise and technology available.
“We are also getting assistance from other agencies.”
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While the K9 unit was deployed on Friday, he said the unit was not used yesterday as it had not produced results.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations M. Fatta M. Amin said the manhole in question is part of a domestic sewerage system, and as of yesterday morning, the water level in the system was relatively low, though rapidly flowing.
“The current water level in this domestic sewage channel is three feet (about one metre), but the flow remains strong. Due to the presence of toxic gases in the manhole, only one officer, in personal protective equipment, can enter at a time,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said rescuers will search all the way up to the Pantai Dalam sewage treatment plant.
“If she is not found, we will sit down and plan further action.
“We cannot ascertain yet how long the SAR will be conducted,” she told reporters after visiting the scene, where she also declined to speculate on the cause of the sinkhole.
“We have to wait for the final report after the operation is concluded,” she added.
Dr Zaliha said her ministry will also remap areas in Kuala Lumpur, including Jalan Masjid India, with input from multiple agencies.
“We are not only focusing on the safety of Jalan Masjid India, but the rest of Kuala Lumpur as well,” she said.
Elsewhere, the city’s Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman night market was closed yesterday to facilitate search efforts.
On its Facebook page, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced that the scheduled arts and culture event at Lorong TAR, set for today, has been postponed.
“This decision was made to facilitate the ongoing search efforts for the victim who has yet to be found. It was also taken to ensure the safety of the night market traders,” said DBKL.
On Friday, Vijayalaksmi fell into the 8m-deep sinkhole at 8.22am, with footage from a surveillance camera showing the pavement giving way right under her feet as she walked.
Meanwhile, traders and businesses at Jalan Masjid India urged the government to take proactive measures to ensure the area is safe for the public.
Malaysian Indian Goldsmith and Jewellers president Datuk Abdul Rasul Abdul Razak said many people are now shying away from the area following the incident, resulting in substantial losses for traders there.
He said there are 47 goldsmith stores in the area, and their business was affected by an earlier sinkhole incident three months ago, about 100m from the current site.
Abdul Rasul said defects started surfacing just months after the area underwent a major facelift, including the upgrading of pavements.
“We are saddened by this tragedy and it should not have happened. This will have a lasting impact on the public who may refrain from coming here, fearing for their safety, even six months from now.
“As a result, our businesses are badly affected and we are running at a loss, especially on a weekend such as today, with this area being a ‘platinum point’ for gold sales.
“As such, we urge the government to promptly look into the integrity of these pavements here and all over the city to ensure such tragedy does not recur. The public must be given the assurance that this place is safe,” he pleaded.
Masjid India Business Association president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin also urged the government to conduct comprehensive surveys and establish a clear standard operating procedure for all underground work carried out by utility companies or other agencies.
“It is crucial for precautions to be taken to prevent underground soil erosion and mitigate future risks, particularly in high-traffic areas like Masjid India.
“As a leading association representing businesses in the Masjid India area, we are committed to cooperating fully with government agencies to conduct safety surveys across the entire district.
“We are prepared to work together with the government to ensure necessary measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all who frequent this important shopping and tourist destination,” he said.
Ameer Ali said it is critical that the government act quickly to restore public confidence, especially given that the tragedy has gained global attention.
