An extensive search for Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, a 48-year-old Indian woman who disappeared into a pavement sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur, has encountered significant challenges on its eighth day, with authorities now deeming it "too risky" to continue sending divers. This incident has captivated Malaysia, with around 110 rescuers tirelessly working for over a week to locate Ms. Gali. Despite a thorough 17-hour initial search that yielded only a pair of slippers, no further progress has been made.
On Friday at 04:00 local time (21:00 GMT Thursday), two divers entered the sewer network but were met with powerful water currents and dense debris, according to the Fire and Rescue Department. The space was so confined that the divers had to "lie flat," as explained by Nor Hisham Mohammad, the department's director-general. He noted that efforts to remove the solidified debris, described as being like concrete blocks, were unsuccessful even with the strength of eight people pulling on ropes.
Earlier attempts by divers in full scuba gear faced zero visibility and heavy rain, making the operation even more perilous. "Descending into the hole was terrifying, but as firefighters, we must conquer our fear and trust in God," firefighter Alimaddia Bukri told the local newspaper Simar Harian. Another diver described the conditions in The Straits Times as "pitch black," filled with human waste and other debris, necessitating immediate decontamination after each dive.
Ms. Gali, who was visiting from Andhra Pradesh, India, was reportedly on her way to a nearby temple with her family when she fell into the 8-meter (26-foot) deep sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India. In response, rescuers deployed excavators, sniffer dogs, and crawler cameras—robotic devices used to inspect pipes. They also employed high-pressure water jets, iron hooks, and ropes in an attempt to break through the hardened debris.
On Tuesday, a ground-penetrating radar was brought in to detect changes in material density underground. However, the search was further complicated when a second sinkhole appeared just 50 meters from the first, which a geologist suggested might have been caused by the ongoing rescue operations.
Recent efforts have concentrated on clearing a 15-meter blockage in the sewer lines beneath Wisma Yakin, an office building located about 44 meters from the original sinkhole. The blockage reportedly consists of human waste, tires, hair, and solidified cooking oil, among other materials. Parts of Jalan Masjid India have been cordoned off as the search continues, leading to a significant drop in local business activity, with some traders considering temporary closures due to a 50% to 70% decline in sales.
The Malaysian government has extended the visas of Ms. Gali's family, who were scheduled to return to India last Saturday, by a month as they await news. Out of respect for the family, Kuala Lumpur's City Hall has also canceled National Day celebrations.
The incident has raised concerns and sparked anger among Malaysians, who are demanding answers about what caused the sinkhole. Authorities have announced plans for an "integrity audit" to investigate the cause, with initial observations from the Minerals and Geosciences Department suggesting a combination of human activities and climate change may be responsible.