Police have revealed a disturbing new theory about what happened to the tourist who disappeared after being swallowed by an 8-metre deep sinkhole.
Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, 48, disappeared into a sinkhole in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur last week on August 23 after a pavement collapsed.
The Indian woman remains missing as the search continues into its seventh day, with rescue teams flushing wells in the area and using high-powered jets to clear debris blocking access to sewers. First post defeated.
Meanwhile, a second sinkhole has formed about 50 meters away, raising concerns about safety in the area.
Malaysian police have said they believe the woman was swept away by an underground water current.
Terrifying footage shows Vijaya Lakshmi walking on the sidewalk as usual
Suddenly the ground opens up, causing her to fall in while others narrowly avoid a similar fate
She has been missing for five days now after being swallowed by the sinkhole
A view of a sinkhole that formed in the same area where an Indian woman fell into an eight-meter deep sinkhole
A man crosses a closed road after another deep sinkhole formed in Kuala Lumpur a week ago when a woman fell into a sinkhole when a sidewalk collapsed. Thursday, August 29
Police stand guard at a closed roadside after the latest sinkhole in the area
Rescue teams say there are no other traces of the woman who fell through the opening
Datuk G Parameswaran, chairman of the Malaysian Water and Wastewater Quality Safety Association, told The Straits Times: “Sewage is also very rough and the flow has a minimum velocity of one metre per second.
‘Theoretically, she could have covered a distance of 86.4 km in 24 hours.’
Terrifying footage shows the moment the 48-year-old woman walks down the sidewalk and suddenly disappears.
An initial search by Malaysian rescue teams found Ms Lakshmi’s shoes, but there were no other traces of her. Telegraph report.
CCTV footage shows how others sitting on a nearby bench narrowly avoided falling on the woman.
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Service officers inspect the scene where a woman fell into an eight-metre deep sinkhole
A search and rescue operation is still underway in the Malaysian capital
An initial search by Malaysian rescue teams found Ms Lakshmi’s shoes
Rescue efforts continue into the night as fire rescue teams inspect the sinkhole
Crowds gather as wait continues for missing woman in Malaysia
The shopping area is known for its goldsmiths and jewelers and attracts many tourists
Ms Lakshmi and her family are believed to have been in Malaysia for about two months and were due to fly home on Sunday.
Authorities have now arranged for a care worker to be sent to the woman’s family members, including her husband and son.
The shopping area, known for its goldsmiths and jewelers, is about a 10-minute drive from the city’s Petronas Towers.
