KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities have called off the search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate the victim who fell into a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the decision was made following a report to the Cabinet regarding the incident.
She said SAR efforts would be stopped starting today following findings presented by the team on-site.
"It is now a search-and-recovery operation and the police are taking over.
"We are not conducting the search due to safety concerns for the team members who are deployed, as there is a possibility of strong currents," she said.
The second factor is the area safety after the authorities discovered the second sinkhole there, she said.
"Thirdly, we need to resume activities here as soon as possible, and despite the circumstances, we do not want to compromise the safety of visitors passing through Jalan Masjid India," she said.
Zaliha said the decision was made after consultation with various agencies, such as the police, Fire and Rescue Department and Indah Water Konsortium.
On Aug 23, G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, a tourist from India, went missing after falling into an eight-metre deep hole caused by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India while en route to a nearby temple.
Last night, efforts to locate the victim at the site of the sinkhole yielded no results, despite the detection of an anomalous object one metre underground using Ground Penetrating Radar.
Over 115 personnel from various agencies were seen at the site since this morning involved in the operation, which is on its ninth day.