The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has cancelled the 2024 Merdeka Eve celebrations that were initially planned to take place at Dataran Merdeka on August 30. In its social post, DBKL also urged people to consider the actual significance of National Day and to show their patriotism in different contexts.
This decision was made to show respect in light of the recent tragic sinkhole incident last Friday along Jalan Masjid India, where a 48-year-old Indian national woman, Vijayaletchumy fell into an eight-metre-deep sinkhole along Jalan Masjid India.
The search and rescue operation has now entered its sixth day and her body has not been found.
In its statement, DBKL reported that the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) team had entered the sewage channel upstream from the sewage tunnel at Wisma Yakin, while manual shoring while excavation work continued. Additionally, the search using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) by the Mineral and Geosciences Department is also ongoing.
Furthermore, despite Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) claims that KL roads are safe, a second sinkhole was discovered yesterday, just 50 metres from the initial sinkhole.
For the time being Jalan Masjid India is closed to all motor vehicles, however it is still open to foot traffic.
Source: BERNAMA