THE first few steps in the excavation of the Masjid India sinkhole to retrieve the female Indian tourist, who fell into the sinkhole while walking, could have been better planned as were revealed by videos of the excavation being done by a JCB backhoe.

In the video a heavy block of concrete, possibly a large stone bench which was near the excavated hole, was seen falling down when the backhoe was trying to push it aside or remove it.

The large block tilted and fell into the initially excavated pit and ruptured a large pipe which started gushing out water profusely thereby making the work of the SAR personnel much more difficult.

What should have been done was to remove all objects heavy or otherwise within a certain perimeter to enable the work to go on safely and quickly.

The large block of concrete should have been pushed away to a safe distance from the hole when the excavation started.

The backhoe was not powerful enough to prevent the large block from falling especially when the block was too close to the hole.

Perhaps the operator of the tractor was not skilled enough to drag the block away from the hole. A strong steel cable could have been used to either drag or lift the block from being near the hole.

Straps were seen placed around the block possibly to lift it, but this was not done. The large concrete block fell down and blocked the pit and complicated matters.

This should not have happened as time was crucial to save the victim who has not been found yet. The SAR personnel are doing their best and are being exposed to risky and dangerous conditions.

Many have given reasons for the occurrence of the sinkhole. In my humble opinion this sinkhole could have happened to due to long-term water seepage from leaking and broken drains, which are covered and the problems concerning the drains cannot be easily seen.

Whether it rains or not the stagnant water in the drains starts seeping underground especially when part of the drainage has been broken due to long-term exposure to the elements and poor maintenance.

Roots of large trees nearby can break or crack the ground underneath allowing for water seepage and over time as the soil is removed by the erosion underneath a large cavity is formed and something can trigger the collapse of the surface leading to the creation of a sinkhole.

Another possible cause could have been trenching and other construction works where the earth was not compacted or reinstated properly thereby allowing retention of water that finds its way to underground cavities that can cause a sinkhole overtime.

The Masjid India area is flat and water accumulates quickly during a downpour and the drains become stagnant.

The area is also close to a river and one can expected the earth around Masjid India to have a highwater table.

Furthermore, it was also reported that a similar sinkhole appeared last year close to the present one.

This tragedy, for which DBKL will be legally liable, could have been avoided if the nearby areas were also checked meticulously for any telltale sign of subsidence or instability.

This is a good opportunity for DBKL to avoid instances like these from recurring. There are latest advances in geotechnical engineering such as the ground penetrating radar that uses electromagnetic waves to map subsurface features.

This is to check the strength and stability of the ground to a certain depth and the City Hall needs to use this or other systems to check various part of Kuala Lumpur which keeps on constructing buildings nonstop.

Before installing the concrete interlocking pavers and slabs, the worksite needs to be reinforced with BRC mesh to ensure strength and safety.

This will prevent a quick collapse of the pavement or walkway. The surface may look alright but danger could be lurking underneath and this was what happened in the latest unfortunate incident.

Anyway, the Masjid India area was supposed to be re-developed to give it a modern outlook with better facilities. Why has this not been done yet?

The area between the Campbell Road Police station and Jalan Tun Perak is insanitary and poorly maintained, and at times this section of the city stinks to high heavens. - Aug 27, 2024

V. Thomas is a Focus Malaysia viewer. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/dbkl-needs-to-take-pro-active-measure-to-avoid-recurrences-of-sinkholes-and-other-calamities/