Indian tourist in Malaysia remains missing a week after falling in sinkhole

As per a report by news agency Associated Press, Nor Hisham Mohammad, deputy director of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, stated that the search operation would continue, with the possibility of sending scuba divers into the sewage tunnel to investigate an obstacle detected there, provided conditions are safe.

Earlier on Thursday, two divers attempted to enter the tunnel but had to be pulled out before reaching the obstacle due to hazardous conditions.

Authorities noted that a soil slip was reported at the same location last year. On Wednesday, a second sinkhole appeared roughly 50 metres from where the woman went missing, raising concerns about public safety. As a result, some roads in the affected area have been closed.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Maimunah Mohamad Sharif reassured the public about the city’s safety, announcing that a task force has been established to inspect sewage pipes and evaluate the safety of nearby structures.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Indian embassy, in a post on X, stated that search and rescue teams are systematically exploring new potential paths.

The operation involves coordinated efforts from the police, fire and rescue department, Indah Water Consortium, Kuala Lumpur federal territories agencies, and civil defence forces, the embassy added.

“After flushing through portions of drain system, search is being augmented with specialised techniques including high pressure water jets to remove obstacles, remote cameras and ground penetrating radars to map inaccessible areas,” High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur said.