Search for Indian national continues with strong commitment from all agencies

KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue (SAR) operation has continued into its eighth day with strong commitment from all involved agencies.

According to the Wilayahku portal, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Corporate Planning Unit stated that the SAR team’s search continued through the night until 6 a.m. this morning.

“Three high-capacity electric pumps were used by the SAR team to lower the water level by 2.5 feet from the pipe’s base, allowing the team to resume examination of the pipe alignment from manhole 1 (ground zero) to manhole 2 (Wisma Yakin).

“Heavy machinery was also deployed to assist with excavation work, enabling additional suction pipes brought in by Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) to further reduce the water level as much as possible,” the statement said.

The DBKL Corporate Planning Unit explained that the SAR team had attempted to enter the sewer pipe system through manhole 1 (ground zero) and manhole 2 (Wisma Yakin).

However, these efforts were unsuccessful due to the narrow passage and the increased gas levels in the pipes, which posed significant risks to the SAR team.

Previously, media reports indicated a land subsidence incident on August 23, which caused a woman named Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, to go missing.

The victim was reported to have fallen into an eight-meter deep hole at the site, with the search and rescue operation now entering its eighth day.