A tragic incident made headlines last year when a 48-year-old foreign woman was buried alive after a sinkhole suddenly opened along Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
Rescue teams launched daily search and rescue (SAR) efforts, but no signs of her were found.
The victim’s son returned to the site on her death anniversary
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr. Zaliha Mustafa later announced that the SAR operation for the Indian national woman was officially called off on August 31, 2024.
A year later, her son Surya returned to the site to mark the first anniversary of the tragic disappearance of his mother, Vijayalakshmi.
Videos of the moment have since gone viral, showing Surya performing thavasam, a Hindu ritual observed one year after a death and considered a compulsory practice to ensure the departed soul’s peaceful journey to the next realm, according to Sinar Harian.
Surya placed a framed photo of his mother on the pedestrian walkway, decorated with a flower garland, fruits, traditional cakes, and food served on banana leaves.
As part of the ritual, the 25-year-old also handed out food and drinks to the public as anathanam (charity). In Hindu belief, offering vegetarian food to others is thought to bring blessings to the soul of the departed.
The victim plunged eight metres into the sinkhole
On August 23 last year, Vijayalakshmi from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, tragically fell eight meters into a sinkhole along the walkway at Jalan Masjid India.
At the time, Surya was in Thailand and immediately rushed to Malaysia after receiving the heartbreaking news about his mother.
The grieving family eventually accepted the decision to end the SAR and held a final prayer ceremony for the victim before leaving Malaysia.
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