The Indian woman was on her way to the temple when the ground collapsed. (Representative)
New Delhi:
Five days after an Indian woman, Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, disappeared into a sinkhole in Malaysia, authorities in Kuala Lumpur are continuing their 24-hour search and rescue operation in an attempt to find her.
The Indian High Commission has been in touch with the family of Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi and is briefing them about the search and rescue operations.
48-year-old Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, who regularly travels to Malaysia and Singapore on business, disappeared after falling into the 8-meter deep hole. She was on her way to the temple when the ground suddenly collapsed. Her husband and son managed to escape the collapse.
According to the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, “The Search and Rescue (SAR) teams have methodically deduced newer probable paths and likely locations of the missing Indian woman.”
In a post on microblogging site
Malaysian authorities continue their search, now in its fourth day, for Ms Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, an Indian national, who fell into a sinkhole in KL on Friday, August 23. The concerned authorities (Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Indah Water Consortium, KL Federal Territories… pic.twitter.com/PPpt4qRfMg
— India in Malaysia (@hcikl) August 26, 2024
“Local authorities, apart from the Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Indah Water Consortium and KL Federal Territories agencies, are now being supported by the civilian armed forces and specialized scientific teams with advanced equipment involved in the search,” said the report.
Search and rescue operations
Explaining how the search operation is being carried out, the Indian High Commission said: “After flushing parts of the drainage system, the search operation is augmented with specialized techniques including high-pressure water jets to remove obstacles, remote cameras and ground-penetrating radars to identify inaccessible maps areas to map.”
“The Indian High Commission is in close contact with relevant agencies involved in the search efforts as the search has entered its fifth day. Officers are also in contact with family members to provide ongoing support,” the report said.
Situation at home
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had directed officials of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society to ensure that the search operations were carried out effectively.
48-year-old Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, who regularly travels to Malaysia and Singapore for business
The Chief Minister along with Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Nara Lokesh has been closely monitoring the situation for the past five days.
