The search and rescue operation for Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, an Indian woman who fell into a pavement sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, has entered its eighth day, with authorities declaring it “too risky” to continue deploying divers. The operation, involving over 110 rescuers, has yielded limited results despite tireless efforts over the past week. The only item recovered was a pair of slippers found during an initial 17-hour search.
The decision to halt diving operations came after two divers, a firefighter and a sewer worker, encountered significant obstacles on Friday morning. Strong water currents and dense debris in the sewer network posed formidable challenges, forcing the divers to navigate through narrow spaces while lying flat. Efforts to break apart the solidified debris, resembling concrete blocks, proved unsuccessful despite the use of ropes and eight people.
Divers who previously descended into the sewer in full scuba gear described the experience as harrowing. “It is pitch black in that pipe,” one diver told The Straits Times. “You don’t want to know what’s in there. It’s full of human waste and other garbage. We decontaminate immediately after each dive.”
Gali, 48, from Andhra Pradesh, India, was on her way to a nearby temple with her family when the 8-meter deep sinkhole opened up on Jalan Masjid India road. Since the incident, excavators have been used to dig around the sinkhole, and rescuers have deployed sniffer dogs, crawler cameras, and high-pressure water jets to investigate the situation underground. Ground-penetrating radar was also used to detect changes in material density.
A second sinkhole appeared 50 meters from the first on Wednesday, which a Malaysian geologist attributed to the ongoing rescue efforts. The focus of the operation has shifted to clearing a 15-meter blockage in the sewer lines beneath Wisma Yakin, an office building located 44 meters from the initial sinkhole. The blockage, composed of human waste, tires, hair, and solidified cooking oil, has significantly complicated the search.
Parts of Jalan Masjid India have been cordoned off, leading to a significant decrease in activity in the area, which is usually bustling with tourists. Traders report a 50% to 70% drop in sales, with some considering closing their businesses.
The Malaysian government has extended the visas of Ms. Gali’s family for a month while they await updates. They were initially scheduled to return to India last Saturday. Kuala Lumpur’s City Hall has also canceled National Day celebrations in respect for the family.
The incident has raised concerns among Malaysians about infrastructure and prompted an “integrity audit” to determine the cause of the sinkhole. Preliminary observations by the Minerals and Geosciences Department suggest it may be linked to a combination of human activities and climate change.
