KL sinkhole incident: Traders feel the pinch as customers avoid the area
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Ms Asmawati, 52, who works at a clothing shop some 15m from the sinkhole, said no customers have come by.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
KUALA LUMPUR - Traders near the sinkhole incident at the Masjid India area are feeling the pinch as business has drastically been affected.
Such a situation could be seen at the Wisma Yakin commercial centre some 10m from the sinkhole location and shops below Malayan Mansion.
Since Aug 24 morning, the police have closed off several routes towards the mosque at Jalan Masjid India and in front of the police post at Selangor Mansion flats to limit the movements near the sinkhole.
However, it was business as usual for the area behind Malayan Mansion, where shops were operating with customers.
Shoppers and visitors were busy visiting shops behind Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
On Aug 23 morning, a 48-year-old woman fell into an 8m deep sinkhole in the area.
The Indian national was visiting Malaysia and walking in the Jalan Masjid India area when a section of the sidewalk suddenly caved in.
Search and rescue efforts for the woman who fell into the sinkhole on Aug 23.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Only a pair of slippers believed to belong to the woman has been recovered so far, with search and rescue efforts now hindered by strong water currents running under where the sinkhole appeared.
A check by The Star on Aug 24 revealed many people were walking behind the police lines set up, curious about the situation, near the sinkhole.
Ms Asmawati, 52, who works at a clothing shop some 15m from the sinkhole, said while the shop could still open, no customers have come by as several roads around Jalan Masjid India have been closed.
“People cannot walk in areas near the area so our business has been affected,” she said.
She conceded that she was afraid for her safety following the sinkhole incident and hoped the authorities could ensure the area was still safe.
“The same incident happened last year very near to yesterday’s (Aug 23) incident,” she said.
A section of the sidewalk suddenly caved in on Aug 23.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Ms Asmawati said if the shop, which opens between 10am and 6.30pm daily, closes, then she will lose a source of income.
“I’ve been working here for about two years. Since yesterday’s incident, I received a lot of calls from family and friends, asking if I was alright and asking me to be careful,” she said.
Trader Rizal Jasni, 64, who has been selling songkok at Wisma Yakin for 44 years, said his business has been affected.
“The area (near the sinkhole) has been closed off to pedestrians. Usually I receive a steady number of customers but today (Aug 24), there is no one,” he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
