KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the Indian national swallowed by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India here last Friday has resumed after being temporarily halted around 5am today.

Checks by Bernama found that the SAR team, consisting of the Royal Malaysia Police, the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, was already at the scene and the surrounding area by 8am to continue the operation.

It is understood that the SAR operation, now in its eighth day, is still focused on efforts to clear a ‘backlog’ or 15-metre blockage detected yesterday in the sewer lines below Wisma Yakin, approximately 44 metres from the sinkhole.

This follows an unsuccessful attempt at 4am today by two scuba divers from the JBPM Northern Region Academy to clear the debris in the sewer chambers after nearly half an hour of diving.

Bernama also observed that the number of business premises operating around the location remains the same as yesterday, with only those inside buildings mostly open, while traders using tents or roadside stalls are closed.

On August 23, an Indian woman identified as G. Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, disappeared after falling into the eight-meter-deep sinkhole while on her way to a nearby temple.

The SAR operation was activated on the same day, involving personnel from various security forces and local authorities who employed multiple techniques, including jetting, flushing and water suction to clear the incident site. — Bernama