A new sinkhole has appeared along Jalan Bonus in the Masjid India area, reigniting public concern over the safety of Kuala Lumpur’s ageing underground infrastructure, barely a year after a tragic sinkhole incident in the same neighbourhood claimed a life.
According to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the latest incident occurred around 8.39am yesterday in front of Bombay Jewellery, near the bustling Jalan Masjid India commercial stretch. Authorities from DBKL, Air Selangor, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), and the Dang Wangi district police were immediately dispatched to conduct on-site inspections and technical assessments.
Mayor Confirms It Was Ground Settlement, Not a Sinkhole
Later in the day, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mainumah Mohd Sharif clarified that the incident was not a sinkhole, but a case of ground settlement.
“When I went to the site at 2pm. We opened up the tiles around the area to see if there were any leaking pipes and, thankfully, there were none. It also rained this morning and we wanted to (check) whether there was loose soil. We have to find out the cause of the ground settlement. But there is no need to panic; it’s not a sinkhole.”
She said early checks found no burst pipes or underground leaks, adding that the situation is stable and there is no cause for alarm. DBKL has also appointed a geotechnical consultant to monitor the site.
By 6PM contractors had patched up the affected portion of the road, and the stretch has since reopened to traffic. Monitoring and technical assessments are ongoing.
A Painful Reminder of Last Year’s Tragedy
This latest incident comes just over a year after the devastating sinkhole tragedy that made national headlines in September 2024, when Indian tourist G. Vijayalakshmi, 48, was swallowed by a massive eight-metre-deep sinkhole along the same stretch of road.
Despite days of extensive search and rescue operations by multiple agencies, her body was never recovered, prompting widespread scrutiny of Kuala Lumpur’s infrastructure maintenance and drainage systems.
Last month, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa revealed in Parliament that a special task force investigation had concluded the previous collapse was caused by a corroded sewer pipe, compounded by soil instability, and not due to underlying limestone formations as previously speculated.
Public Safety Still the Priority
DBKL has assured that safety remains it’s top priority and that ongoing technical assessments will determine the cause of the latest sinkhole. The agency said repair works and ground restoration will proceed once investigations are completed.
For now, commuters are advised to plan alternative routes, and business owners in the Masjid India vicinity have been urged to exercise caution as inspection continue.
The recurrence of sinkholes in one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest shopping districts serves as a sobering reminder of the city’s ageing infrastructure, and the urgent need for long-term solutions to safeguard both residents and visitors in the heart of the capital.
Sources: SAYS, The Straits Time
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