Wife Swallowed by Sinkhole in KL Day Before Return to India

By Subaashinee Kupusamy,

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 August: In a tragic turn of events, a 48-year-old Indian woman fell into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole after a section of the sidewalk caved in on Jalan Masjid India, near Malayan Mansion, on August 23.

The victim, an Indian national who was preparing to return to India with her husband the next day, was walking in the area when the ground suddenly gave way beneath her. Her husband and a group of women in sarees were seen at the scene, anxiously questioning authorities about the chances of finding her alive.

The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call around 8:20 AM, prompting the deployment of 15 firemen from two fire stations to the scene. Operation commander Mohd Riduan Akhbar stated that upon arrival, rescuers discovered that the woman had fallen into the sinkhole due to the sidewalk collapse.

A search and rescue operation are currently underway, with the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia and the K9 unit actively involved.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, present at the scene, urged thorough inspections of the city’s drainage and sewerage systems to prevent future incidents. He emphasized the importance of these precautions, especially given the area’s popularity among tourists.

The operation has seen the involvement of around 200 officers from DBKL, police, firemen, and other agencies, all prioritizing the effort to rescue the woman as stated in The Star.