Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The bustling shopping district of Jalan Masjid India is gearing up for its busiest period of the year, five months after a tragic sinkhole incident left the area devoid of shoppers. On August 23, 2024, Ms Vijayalaksmi, a tourist from India, fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole that suddenly opened on the pavement. Despite intensive search operations, her body was never found.
The sinkhole has since been repaired and covered with new black tiles. As the district prepares for the Ramadan season, which starts on March 1 and culminates in Hari Raya Aidilfitri on March 31, traders report a significant improvement in business.
“Business is OK now,” said Mr Anvar Rizan, a manager at a jewellery store. Masjid India Business Association president Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin noted that business is “back to 80 percent.” The area saw a surge in shoppers during the Chinese New Year holidays, with families and tourists filling the streets and much-coveted parking lots once again.
As the annual Ramadan bazaar approaches, Jalan Masjid India is set to transform into a vibrant marketplace, drawing even more customers to its array of traditional Indian and Malay food, cheap bajus, saris, and gold jewellery.