Efforts to locate Indian tourist Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, who fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur on August 23, have come to a halt due to safety fears.

The eight-metre-deep (26ft) sinkhole opened unexpectedly as she was walking along a road, and despite extensive search efforts, only her slippers have been recovered.

The search operation has utilised tracker dogs, remote cameras, and ground-penetrating radar, but officials from the fire and rescue department have deemed it “too dangerous” to deploy divers into the sinkhole, according to the Straits Times.

Dr Zaliha Mustafa, a minister in the prime minister’s department, cited several safety and health concerns for the rescue personnel as reasons for halting the operation. As the search enters its eighth day, hopes of finding Vijaya continue to dwindle amid these challenging conditions.

Search teams have been using high-pressure water jets and excavators to clear debris from the underground drainage system in the ongoing effort to locate the Indian tourist.

Two divers attempted to enter the sinkhole early Thursday but were quickly withdrawn due to dangerous conditions, preventing them from reaching the blockage.

Authorities have noted that a soil slip occurred at the same site last year, raising alarms when a second sinkhole formed just 50 metres away from the original location on Wednesday, prompting road closures in the area.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif has assured residents about the city’s safety, announcing the formation of a task force to inspect sewage pipes and evaluate the stability of nearby structures.

Police reported that Gali arrived in Malaysia with her husband and friends about two months ago for a holiday, and the incident took place just a day before their scheduled return home.