Kuala Lumpur sinkhole rescue draws a blank as blame game erupts in Malaysia
- The victim, a 48-year-old Indian tourist, vanished without a trace on Friday. Hopes of finding her alive are dimming by the hour
Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, a 48-year-old Indian woman, vanished without a trace on Friday morning when the pavement beneath her feet suddenly gave way, plunging her into an 8-metre-deep chasm in the bustling Masjid India district of Kuala Lumpur.
The horrific episode, captured on CCTV, has now morphed from a desperate rescue effort into what appears to be a grim recovery operation.
“It’s impossible to predict when and where a sinkhole will occur,” Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, who also serves as the minister in charge of water, told reporters on Sunday, seeking to reassure a jittery public.
“This phenomenon doesn’t only happen in Malaysia, but also around the world, particularly in areas with limestone and specific geological conditions.”
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Indian tourist vanishes after being swallowed by 8-metre sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur
But the revelation that the exact same spot had collapsed just last year before being hastily patched up sparked disbelief and outrage online, with some social media users accusing authorities of “negligence of duties”.
