Search efforts have been expanded for a woman who went missing following a sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India.
JBPM announced that additional search personnel would be assigned following the enlargement of the excavation area, which will be conducted using an excavator from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. - SinarHarian.
KUALA LUMPUR: A woman remains unaccounted for after being engulfed by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India today, leading the rescue team to broaden their excavation efforts after an initial manual search did not locate the Indian national. Rozihan Anwar Mamat, the deputy director of the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and operations commander, stated that additional search personnel would be assigned as the area designated for excavation is expanded with the assistance of a Kuala Lumpur City Hall excavator.
A manual search was conducted, but the victim could not be found; therefore, we will proceed with more comprehensive dredging of the sinkhole, he stated when approached by reporters at the site.
In the meantime, ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, the police chief of Dang Wangi, reported that the victim was last seen walking from Selangor Mansion towards Lebuh Ampang at the time of the incident.
It was reported that the victim was seated on a concrete chair when it unexpectedly gave way, causing her to fall into an eight-meter-deep sinkhole, he explained.
"We are currently reviewing CCTV footage and gathering witness statements from those present at the scene.
At this moment, we cannot provide additional information, including the timeline of events, as the investigation is still pending. We will issue updates as soon as the victim is located," he added.
Regarding safety protocols, Sulizmie mentioned that discussions with relevant agencies are ongoing to determine whether a larger area surrounding the sinkhole should be closed off.
"Rescue operations for the victim are in progress, and we are awaiting the arrival of an excavator.
We must prioritize the safety of the firefighters involved in the rescue efforts, and for now, a complete closure of the sinkhole area has not been decided," he continued.
Additionally, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi urged the public to adhere to the directives provided by authorities at the sinkhole site.
Nanta, who expressed his condolences to those impacted by the incident, emphasized that the order was issued for the safety of everyone involved.
"I urge all individuals to remain calm and allow the responsible parties to take prompt and appropriate action," he stated in a Facebook post today.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department reported that they were notified of the incident at 8:22 AM, with a 48-year-old woman believed to be trapped and buried in the sinkhole.
The search and rescue operation at the Masjid India area has resumed this morning.
KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for an Indian woman involved in a landslide incident on Jalan Masjid India resumed on Saturday morning.
After more than 24 hours of rescue efforts, the victim's body has yet to be located.
The SAR operation was suspended at 12:30 AM on Friday due to heavy rainfall and dark conditions, which complicated the search efforts.
An examination of the incident site revealed that numerous police officers, firefighters, and personnel from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were present, preparing to continue their search efforts. According to a report by Astro on Friday, the incident occurred at 8:20 AM when Jayaletchumy, aged 48, unexpectedly fell into a hole approximately eight meters deep. This unfortunate event took place while she and her family were walking in front of Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India, heading towards Wisma Yakin. The search and rescue operation, which lasted for 17 hours on Friday, only managed to recover a pair of the victim's slippers near the incident site. Currently, the focus of the operation is on locating the victim, who is believed to have been swept away by the strong currents. Meanwhile, business operations in the surrounding area appeared to be proceeding as usual, although a few shops in close proximity to the incident site were observed to be closed, with police tape placed in front of them.
The area surrounding Masjid India: More than 17 hours have passed, and the victim has still not been located.
As of midnight last night, the search and rescue operation for the individual known as Vijayaletchumy has been ongoing for 16 hours, yet there are still no signs of positive outcomes. - Image from the Facebook page of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
KUALA LUMPUR: The area around Jalan Masjid India has attracted significant media attention on Friday following an incident involving an Indian female tourist who is feared to have become trapped after falling into a sinkhole early yesterday morning.
As of midnight, the search and rescue operations for the victim, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, have been ongoing for 16 hours without yielding any positive results, despite the deployment of various methods and resources.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received a report of the incident at 8:22 AM, prompting the dispatch of 15 personnel along with two fire engines from the Titiwangsa and Hang Tuah Fire and Rescue Stations to the scene, located in front of Malayan Mansion.
According to information from the authorities, the woman who was trapped and buried under eight meters of sinkhole is scheduled to return to her home country today with her family after nearly two months of traveling in this country.
The search and rescue operations initially involved the Special Operations, Tactical, and Rescue Team, as well as the JBPM canine unit. However, starting at 11:40 AM, the services of a crane from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) were required due to a concrete chair at the incident site that had also fallen into the sinkhole and was believed to have crushed the victim.
A member of the Fire and Rescue Department and an officer from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall were deployed to the eight-meter deep hole using a crane. However, after manual search efforts failed to locate the victim, a broader excavation of the subsided area was conducted using an excavator.
In response, the Fire and Rescue Department has increased its personnel to assist in the search for the victim.
The District Police Chief of Dang Wangi, ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, reported that at the time of the incident, the victim was walking from Selangor Mansion towards Lebuh Ampang. The police will review the closed-circuit television footage and gather statements from witnesses present at the scene.
Menurut Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, proses mencari dan menyelamat mangsa perlu dilakukan secara rapi dan berperingkat kerana Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) mempunyai pelan mereka dan di kawasan tanah jerlus itu terdapat aliran air deras.
Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi turut meminta orang ramai bertenang dan mematuhi arahan yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak berkuasa bagi membolehkan kerja-kerja sewajarnya dilakukan.
Operasi mencari dan menyelamat (SAR) mangsa turut memasuki fasa baharu apabila pasukan SAR memasuki saluran atau 'chamber' kumbahan bagi meneruskan pencarian.
Pengarah Bahagian Operasi Kebombaan dan Penyelamat JBPM, Nordin Pauzi berkata, dua penyelam unit skuba telah digerakkan untuk memasuki saluran itu.
He stated that in the morning on Friday, the search and rescue operation was primarily focused on the area where the victim was reported to have fallen, while last night, the search was conducted along the utility company's sewage pipeline. According to Rusdi, the search and rescue operation was suspended at 12:30 AM last night and will resume at 9 AM today.
The search operation at Masjid India has been postponed, with only the victim's sandals discovered.
Rusdi (fourth from the left) is overseeing the search and rescue operation for a foreign woman who is feared to be buried under a landslide incident on Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur. - Photo by Bernama.
KUALA LUMPUR: Following nearly 17 hours of search and rescue operations for an Indian woman involved in a landslide incident on Jalan Masjid India, the rescue team has only located a pair of the victim's slippers near the site of the incident.
The Chief of Police in Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, stated that the slippers were found floating in the area that had been excavated on Friday morning.
"We have invested a significant amount of time in attempting to rescue the victim, and the scuba team has also entered the location... as of now, the victim has still not been located."
The search at the site of the victim's fall has been conducted thoroughly, as stated during a press conference held at the incident location late last night. Present at the scene were Nordin Pauzi, Director of the Fire and Rescue Department's Operations Division, ACP Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman, the District Police Chief of Dang Wangi, and Narendran Maniam, Chief Executive Officer of Indah Water Konsortium (IWK). He mentioned that the search and rescue operation had to be temporarily suspended at 12:30 AM due to heavy rain and the dark conditions, which made it difficult to continue the search for the victim.
The search efforts at the site where the victim fell have been carried out comprehensively, as indicated during a press briefing at the scene late last night. Among those present were Nordin Pauzi, the Director of the Operations Division of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, ACP Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman, the Dang Wangi District Police Chief, and Narendran Maniam, the Chief Executive Officer of Indah Water Konsortium (IWK). He noted that the search and rescue operation was temporarily halted at 12:30 AM due to heavy rainfall and the challenging visibility conditions, which hindered the ongoing search for the victim.
The search and rescue team, as stated, is facing challenges such as strong currents and the presence of gases in addition to sewage, which pose risks to the diving unit.
However, Rusdi mentioned that the surrounding areas remain safe for passage, although the public is advised to minimize movement in that vicinity.
"We will tighten control in this area, and the public is urged to reduce their movements and remain vigilant," he stated.
Narendran added that his team will assist in the search and rescue efforts by opening every manhole along the seven-kilometer stretch of the sewage pipeline leading to the sewage treatment plant in Pantai Dalam.
We will proceed downstream and inspect each drainage channel thoroughly. We began our examination earlier today; however, we did not find anything.
"If there were any victims, they would likely be caught at the inter pump station, but so far, there have been none," he stated.
He also mentioned that it is indeed possible for a human body to be swept into the drainage system, which has a diameter of 1.5 meters and extends over 3 meters in depth.
"This is a substantial pipe, as it accommodates all the sewage from around Kuala Lumpur," he added.
The incident occurred at 8:20 AM when Jayaletchumy, 48, unexpectedly fell into a hole eight meters deep while walking with her family in front of Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India.
The land of Masjid India: The child of the victim pleads for the rescue of their mother.
A journalist conducted an interview with the family members of the Indian woman who fell victim to the sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India, at the scene of the event, on Friday. - Image courtesy of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Facebook page.
KUALA LUMPUR: "Please save my mother," pleaded the eldest son of an Indian woman who fell victim to a landslide incident on Jalan Masjid India, upon arriving at the scene on Friday morning.
It has been reported that the 26-year-old man, known as Surya, had just arrived in the country from Thailand and rushed to the site around 9:30 PM the previous night to witness the search efforts for his mother firsthand. Dressed in a white shirt with black checks, he was visibly overwhelmed with grief and required comfort from several family members and acquaintances present at the location.
Previously, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff, visited the incident site and engaged in conversation with the victim's husband, facilitated by an interpreter.
During a press conference held last night, Maimunah announced that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall is prepared to assist the family with any needs they may have while they remain in the country throughout the search operation.
The victim, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Andhra, Kuppam, and her family are scheduled to return to India tomorrow after spending two months traveling in the country.
In the incident that occurred at 8:20 AM, the victim was walking in front of Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India when she suddenly fell into a hole approximately eight meters deep.
The land near Masjid India: The victim is believed to have been swept away by strong currents, according to the police.
An examination by Astro AWANI revealed that at least four excavators are present at the site to conduct operations for digging in the subsided area.
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indian woman who fell into a sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India is believed to have been swept away by strong underground currents.
According to the statement from the Chief of Police of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the victim requires meticulous planning due to the involvement of public infrastructure.
He noted that he has been informed of the presence of strong water flows, and the SAR operation has covered the lower underground areas; however, the victim has not yet been located.
We are currently engaged in discussions and rankings with Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and the relevant agencies regarding the infrastructure plan, as we cannot proceed arbitrarily.
"I have been informed that if we proceed with the closure of the pipes or drains, there is a concern that flooding may occur at the site," he stated to reporters at the scene on Friday.
Rusdi emphasized the various factors that must be taken into account, including the condition of the gas underground.
"In this regard, every action taken must be strategic and meticulously planned for the safety of all," he stated.
He clarified that the victim, along with several family members, had traveled to Malaysia nearly two months ago and intended to return to India tomorrow.
Previously, an Astro survey revealed that at least four excavators were present at the incident site to conduct operations aimed at digging the subsided area.
The search operation has now entered its tenth hour since the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received an emergency call at 8:22 AM this morning.
According to Rozihan Anwar Mamat, the Deputy Director of the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department, the excavation efforts are being carried out to expand the search area for the victim who fell during the incident.