Intensive search: A K9 unit trying to pick up the missing woman’s scent at the sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing sinkhole victim will continue until there is a further directive, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Lembah Pantai MP and Communications Minister said the operation would continue despite the upcoming National Day.
“I have seen the dedication of the SAR team,” he said, adding that the welfare of the SAR team would also be looked into.
Fahmi, who visited the Pantai 1 Sewage Treatment Plant, said he had been briefed by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Fire and Rescue Department on the SAR operation for Indian tourist Vijayalaksmi, 48.
She fell into the 8m-deep sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India when the ground gave way while she was walking to a nearby temple at 8.22am last Friday. The SAR operation for Vijayalaksmi entered the fifth day yesterday.“I was made to understand that the waste will end here and will not go beyond this location.
“This is the end point. The distance between the first manhole and here is about 7km,” said Fahmi.
The waste of some 400,000 city dwellers is managed at the Pantai 1 facility while the remaining 1.4 million is handled by the Pantai 2 facility.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said the use of push rods and crawler cameras in the manhole network had failed to locate the victim, Bernama reported.
Following this, the SAR team, comprising the Fire and Rescue Department, Indah Water Konsortium and DBKL would continue their efforts at the endpoint near the Pantai Dalam treatment plant.
