A YEAR after the harrowing sinkhole tragedy at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, the son of the late Vijayalakshmi has returned to the site to honour her memory.
Surya, 25, marked the first anniversary of his mother’s disappearance by performing the Hindu ritual observed one year after a person's passing, based on the Tamil calendar's date and star alignment.
The ceremony, which took place on the pedestrian walkway where his mother was last seen, is believed to ensure a peaceful passage of the departed soul to the next realm.
Surya placed a framed photograph of his mother, adorned with a floral garland, on the pavement. He then offered traditional items such as fruits, sweets, and cooked food on banana leaves, as part of the ceremonial rites.
To complete the ritual, he distributed vegetarian food and drinks to passers-by in an act known as ‘anathanam’ (charitable offering), a gesture believed to bring blessings to the deceased’s soul.
“The chance to see the face of the person you love one last time was taken away in an instant. Only prayer remains as an eternal bond of love that never fades,” said Surya, who was in Thailand at the time of the tragedy and rushed to Malaysia upon hearing the news.
On 23 August the previous year, Vijayalakshmi, 48, originally from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, fell eight metres into a sinkhole that suddenly opened on the pavement at Jalan Masjid India. Despite relentless daily search and rescue operations, no trace of her was ever found.
After more than a week, on 31 August, the search was officially called off. Then Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, confirmed the termination of the operation, stating no further evidence had been uncovered.
The case remains a sombre reminder of lives abruptly altered by an unforeseen tragedy in the heart of the capital. - August 25, 2025
