Another danger zone: The sinkhole found about 50m away from the first incident. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Jalan Masjid India has been closed to traffic following the occurrence of another sinkhole, this time near a police beat, about 50m from the location of the first one.
The road all the way to the Maybank Jalan Bunus branch has been cordoned off with police tape.
Pedestrians are still allowed to pass through the unaffected part of the road with the surrounding shops still open as usual.
Dang Wangi police chief Asst Comm Suliezmy Affendy Sulaiman said discussions were ongoing to expand the road closure and further developments would be announced later.
The second sinkhole is believed to have occurred early yesterday following a downpour.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) have been directed to inspect the sewage pipe at the location of the second sinkhole.
City mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif said as a safety measure, the spot has been cordoned off using safety tape and a water barrier.
“We will continue working closely with IWK and other agencies to ensure action is taken to prevent a recurrence.
“DBKL will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to ensure public safety,” she said in a statement, Bernama reported.
Maimunah also clarified that it was not true that construction projects in the city have been suspended.
“What I meant is that we have asked for development orders to be double-checked in the case of developments that have been approved, for which the development order (DO) has yet to be issued.
“As for plans that have yet to be approved, we are double- checking to see if a geotechnical report has been submitted,’’ she added.
In the first incident last Friday, an Indian national by the name of Vijayalaksmi, 48, is still missing after falling into the 8m-deep sinkhole.
A search and rescue operation has entered its seventh day.
