No entry: The sinkhole site at Jalan Masjid India remains cordoned off as of yesterday. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Jalan Masjid India here is bustling with activities again as visitors return to the popular street after the sinkhole incident on Aug 23.
A check by Bernama yesterday found that a row of shops facing the site of the landslide had begun to resume business.
Some of them were closed during the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced on Saturday that the SAR operation to locate Vijayalaksmi, 48, had been called off after taking into account safety issues and the risk to SAR team members as well as the safety of the area around the incident site.
An employee at a jewellery store, who wanted to be known only as Ibrahim, said during the nine days of the SAR, there were hardly any visitors.
“On the first day of the incident, the shop was closed. After a few days, the shop reopened, but the number of visitors had dropped drastically.
“It can be said that we lost about 80% of shoppers. After this SAR, I hope people will come again,” he told Bernama.
A visitor, Mohd Azmi Halim, 43, hopes the restoration of Jalan Masjid India can be done as soon as possible because this route is a focal point for tourists.
“When this incident happened, people were afraid to come. When the road is fully restored, I think shoppers will return in droves,” he said.
A security guard at Wisma Yakin, Juinon Masdin, 48, hopes the party responsible will always monitor the situation on the road, especially during heavy rain.
A visitor from Sabah, Elmia Kiramon, 55, said although he was a little worried about the incident, he is confident about the level of security in the area.
“I see that the police have closed the area (the location of the incident) and we as visitors do not go there,” said Elmia, who has been travelling here for the past two weeks and visited Jalan Masjid India twice to shop.
Clothing stall worker Nora Amrizal, 36, also hopes the authorities will conduct checks on the street for the safety of traders and visitors.
She said traders would suffer losses if the public felt the location was unsafe to visit following the sinkhole incident.
