Kuala Lumpur: The family of Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, an Indian woman who tragically disappeared after falling into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, visited the site to perform her last rites. Gali, 48, fell into the 8-meter-deep sinkhole on August 23. Despite a search operation launched immediately after the incident, efforts were called off after nine days due to safety concerns.
On September 1, Gali’s husband, son, and sister gathered at the site to pay their last respects. The family performed Hindu rituals, lighting oil lamps, ringing bells, and collecting soil from the site. Videos shared on social media show the family conducting these solemn ceremonies.
A report said, “The family of Vijayalakshmi, who fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur on August 23, conducted a final religious ceremony at the site on September 1 before returning to India. It comes a day after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Zaliha Mustafa announced that the government decided to terminate the search and rescue operation after nine days of extensive efforts.”
Dr. Zaliha Mustafa explained that the decision to halt the search was made following a thorough evaluation by experts, including the police, search team, and geologists. She stated, “Although an obstruction was detected during the search, it could not be positively identified. The safety of the SAR personnel was a major concern, as the conditions were extremely difficult. The appearance of a second sinkhole in the area further increased the risk to the search team.”
Efforts to locate Gali will continue under the responsibility of various agencies despite the termination of the official search and rescue operation. Dr. Zaliha mentioned that she had discussed the situation with the Indian ambassador to Malaysia, who expressed gratitude for the efforts made and understood the reasoning behind discontinuing the active search. To accommodate the family during this challenging period, their visas were extended for an additional week.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be responsible for recovery and reconstruction efforts in the affected areas. Dr. Zaliha stated, “DBKL will handle the recovery and reconstruction in the affected areas, which will include cordoning off the entrance from Mydin to ensure public safety.”
The search and rescue operation, which began on the day of the incident, involved members from various security forces and local authorities. They employed a range of techniques, including tracker dog units and the ‘jetting’ method, in their efforts to locate Gali.
Despite the challenging conditions and the decision to halt the active search, efforts to find Gali will continue, and authorities remain committed to ensuring the safety of the public and resuming normal activities in the area.
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