Chronology of Jalan Masjid India sinkhole: Nine-day SAR operation for victim
NUR FARHANA ABDUL MANAN
SHAH ALAM - After a nine-day search and rescue (SAR) operation for G. Vijaya Laksmi, 48, who fell into a sinkhole that opened under her feet along Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 23, had been halted on Saturday.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the operation was stopped due to several reasons, including findings at the scene and safety concerns for the rescue team on-site.
Below is the chronology of the incident:
Aug 23, 2024
- The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received a call about a sinkhole incident in front of Jalan Masjid India at 8.22am.
- A total of 15 personnel and officers, along with equipment from Titiwangsa Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) and Hang Tuah BBP were first deployed to the scene to handle the emergency.
- Investigation confirmed that an Indian national tourist Vijaya Laksmi from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, went missing after falling into an eight-metre-deep hole. The victim was reportedly walking in the area from Selangor Mansion.
- The rescue team had to use a crane from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in their search efforts.
- The victim's husband claimed that his wife screamed for help after falling but soon went silent.
- The victim is believed to have been swept away by strong underground currents.
- The search focused on the sewage pipeline.
- The SAR operation was suspended at 12.30am
Aug 24, 2024
- The SAR operation resumed, with officers and personnel from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), JBPM and DBKL arriving at the scene at 8am.
- The operation focused on six sewage manholes in front of Wisma Yakin, Jalan Melayu, the Jalan Melayu intersection, Dataran Merdeka, Bank Pertanian near Lebuh Pasar and Jalan Kinabalu.
- The operation was suspended at 7pm after all six sewage manholes had been inspected, but no clues were found.
Aug 25, 2024
- The SAR operation resumed at around 9.30am, focusing on the second manhole in Jalan Melayu and the third one at the Jalan Melayu intersection.
- Business premises around the land subsidence site on Jalan Masjid India remained closed following orders from the authorities involved. Observations at the scene found that nearly all business premises in the Malayan Mansion were not operating.
- On Sunday, JBPM pumped out sewage water from the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) in Pantai Dalam in an effort to find the victim.
- A special team was set up to study the soil structure to ensure the safety of the area around Masjid Tanah.
- The police announced that they were looking for a man believed to be a witness to the incident involving the missing woman near Jalan Masjid India.
Aug 26, 2024
- DBKL announced that two "flushing" techniques were carried out during the SAR operation on Aug 25, but the victim was still not found.
- IWK also conducted the "flushing" technique to detect the 48-year-old victim.
- IWK carried out debris clearing over a 69-metre stretch.
- The SAR team used camera technology through two techniques, "push rod" and "crawler" which were inserted into the sewage pipes to search for the victim.
- Dang Wangi district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the SAR operation for the victim had entered its fourth day, utilising local expertise fully.
Aug 27, 2024
- The SAR operation entered its fifth day.
- A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) device used to track buried victims by penetrating the ground was brought to the search area to locate the victim.
- The team continued searching at the endpoint of IWK in Pantai Dalam.
- Two sniffer dogs, Denti and Frankie from JBPM K9 Unit, were brought to the scene to assist in the SAR operation.
- The SAR operation was suspended due to heavy rain at 7.30pm.
Aug 28, 2024
- A second subsidence occurred about 50 metres away from the scene on Jalan Masjid India. It is believed to have happened around 2.30am after heavy rain and storms the previous night.
- GPR works by the the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) to assess soil integrity along the sewage pipeline continued.
- DBKL cordoned off the other subsidence area using safety tape and a water barrier.
- The SAR personnel once again entered the pump station at the IWK Pantai Dalam plant.
- The route along Jalan Masjid India was closed to all vehicles following the second subsidence incident.
- Dr Zaliha assured that Kuala Lumpur remains safe.
- The Water Rescue Team (PPDA) prepared to search for the victim.
- An obstruction was detected between the sinkhole site and the second sewage manhole near Jalan Masjid India.
Aug 29, 2024
- The operation to find the missing victim entered its seventh day.
- GPR techniques continued in the search and rescue mission.
- JBPM personnel, equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and breathing apparatus continued the SAR operation at the IWK Pantai Dalam plant.
- The SAR team reported facing not only 100 tonnes of water pressure but also various objects in the sewer system, which pose risks if obstacles in the sewer at Wisma Yakin, Jalan Masjid India are moved.
- The High Commissioner of India to Malaysia visited the site in Jalan Masjid India.
Aug 30, 2024
- The efforts by JBPM divers to search for the victim in Jalan Masjid India by diving into the sewage system near the incident site early in the morning once again came to a dead end.
- The operation, now in its eighth day, still focused on clearing a 15-metre backlog of debris in the sewer at Wisma Yakin, about 44 metres from the main incident site.
- The SAR team used three high-capacity electric pumps to search for the victim.
- The pump station at IWK Pantai Dalam was entered twice by JBPM personnel today to inspect sewage waste and track any clues in the search for the victim.
- The SAR operation continued into the night.
- The SAR team expected to use a telescopic camera.
Aug 31, 2024
- The SAR team remained committed to find the victim as the search entered its ninth day.
- No new clues have been found in the SAR efforts.
- Dr Zaliha announced in a press conference that the SAR operation has been halted and is now moving on to the search and recovery phase.
- The government will discuss the possibility of compensating for the victim's family.
