KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have finished inspecting all six manholes from Jalan Masjid India to the sewerage pond in Pantai Dalam.
However, there are still no signs of the 48-year-old Indian national who fell into a sinkhole yesterday morning.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said the remaining two manholes have been inspected, but there are still no new clues that could lead to the victim's discovery.
"So far, all efforts have not been fruitful in locating the victim. We will stand down tonight and regroup at 9am in the morning tomorrow to resume search and rescue operation efforts," he said in a press conference at the scene of the incident tonight here.
He said authorities do not eliminate any of the sites combed so far and will continue the search efforts, as well as restrategise on additional search and rescue efforts in the morning.
Sulizmie also denied allegations that authorities, namely police, had ordered business operators to close their operation.
"The closure instructions were carried out in stages, at each manhole when works were carried at that respective manhole, as they could be exposed to poisonous fumes during the SAR," he said.
When asked whether the authorities would consider using advanced technology equipment such as thermal metres and so on, he said the matter would be decided later upon discussion with multi-agencies and relevant authorities.
Earlier it was reported that rescue personnel only in full protective equipment were sent into the manholes to avoid the danger posed by toxic gases from the sewer.
The six manholes were located in front of Wisma Yakin, in Jalan Melayu, at the Jalan Melayu intersection, in Dataran Merdeka, near Bank Pertanian Lebuh Pasar and in Bulatan Kinabalu.
Rescuers here could only find a pair of slippers belonging to her near the location after almost 17 hours of searching yesterday.
The woman clad in saree fell into a sinkhole while walking to Lebuh Ampang from Malayan Mansion at about 8am yesterday.