The family of Vijayaletchumy, an Indian woman who is believed to have died after falling into a sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India in August 2024, is seeking an official death certificate and compensation to help settle legal and financial matters in India. Her family’s lawyer has stated that obtaining a death certificate is crucial for closure and to resolve various issues in India, including insurance claims and inheritance matters.
The sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India attracted significant public attention when it occurred in August 2024, as the hole opened unexpectedly in a pedestrian area. Vijayaletchumy, 48, from Andhra Pradesh, was on holiday in Malaysia when she fell into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole that appeared while she was walking along Jalan Masjid India on August 23, 2024.
Multiple government agencies, including the fire and rescue department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), collaborated in the recovery efforts and subsequent investigations into the cause of the sinkhole.
In the weeks following this tragedy, discussions took place regarding potential compensation for the victim’s family.Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, who was then the Federal Territories Minister, previously indicated that the government would not object if the family decided to pursue legal action to claim compensation from the relevant agencies.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall also provided a RM30,000 donation to assist the family shortly after the incident, along with additional contributions from private donors.
However, this was characterized as a goodwill donation rather than formal compensation related to the incident. The family’s ongoing efforts to obtain an official death certificate and seek compensation are part of their attempt to find closure and address the broader implications of this tragic event.
Source: FMT
