KL sinkhole: We will not stop until she is found, says SAR op commander

KUALA LUMPUR: “We will keep searching for the victim until we find her”, says Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman.

ACP Sulizmie Affendy said this on Monday (Aug 26) when asked about the next course of action the authorities intend to take if the 48-year-old Indian national who was swallowed by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India on Friday (Aug 23) or her remains are not found.

The district police chief, who is also the commander of the search and rescue (SAR) operations, did not comment further. However, he revealed that efforts to find the missing victim were hampered by debris, including large rocks and concrete, that was swept into sewer lines by strong water currents.

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He said the debris was obstructing the flow of the sewer line, especially those close to the sinkhole.

ACP Sulizmie Affendy said high-powered water jets were used to clear the debris.

He said trawl cameras were used to search the sewer lines.

He said rescuers are yet to uncover any clues of the whereabouts of the victim.

ACP Sulizmie Affendy said City Hall has also barricaded the underground sewer lines at the sinkhole with over 100 sandbags to stop rainwater from gushing in and disrupting SAR work.

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He said the SAR for the victim is also ongoing at other parts of the seven-kilometre-long sewer line and the Indah Water sewer plant at Pantai Dalam.

Sulizme, the incident’s operations commander, said rescuers are hopeful of finding the victim, given the expertise of local professionals from multiple agencies.

He said a task force comprising the Mineral and Geoscience Department and Public Works Department has also been formed to study the soil and geological conditions in the area to ensure public safety is not compromised.

Sulizmie also urged the public to avoid the scene of the incident for safety concerns.

The office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced earlier that Vijayalakshmi’s family’s visas had been extended for a month.

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Special officer to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Arvend Applasamy, confirmed this.

“The extension is effective today (Aug 26). The government also ensures that the family is being taken care of and that a counsellor is elected to help them at all times,” he said.

Vijayaletchumy, 48, a tourist from India, fell into the eight-metre-deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India after the ground gave way when she was walking to a nearby temple at 8.22am on Friday (Aug 23).