‘All I’m left with is the tattoo of my mum’s name on my arm’

 

Family members waiting for news of the search and rescue operation to locate Vijayaletchumy. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A tattoo of his mother’s name on his arm has become a bittersweet memory for M Suria to cherish as he waits for the outcome of the search and rescue operation for his mother who fell into a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India five days ago.

Suria, 25, told Bernama he recently had his mother’s name, Vijayaletchumy, tattooed on his left arm during a vacation in Thailand.

He said the last time he spoke to his 48-year-old mother was at 1.30am on the day of the incident, when he told her about the tattoo.

She was very happy, and I could hear the joy in her voice,

 Suria said in Tamil through a translator.

“My mother means everything to me. Everything I do is for her… That’s why when I decided to get a tattoo, her name was the first thing that came to my mind.

I’m sad because my mother didn’t get to see the tattoo I got done on my arm just for her. I didn’t expect this to happen… I didn’t get the chance to show her how much I love her.

Suria hoped his mother’s body would be found soon as the family wanted to bury her in their hometown in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.

He said he only learned about the incident after being informed by his brother-in-law last Friday morning.

Vijayaletchumy, who was in the country with her family for a vacation, was reportedly walking towards a nearby temple before the incident.

Upon receiving the news, Suria rushed to Kuala Lumpur from Thailand via the Bukit Kayu Hitam border in Kedah, covering more than 476km to reach Kuala Lumpur.

I didn’t think twice and took an e-hailing ride from Changlun, Kedah, to Kuala Lumpur, which cost RM600,

 he said.

Bernama reported that Suria, his father and several family members had frequently been at the scene to check on the progress of the search.

The search and rescue operation for Vijayaletchumy was temporarily suspended at 7.30pm today because of heavy rain.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) reported that today’s search and rescue operation was focused on the sewage treatment plant at Pantai Dalam.

DBKL also said the search and rescue team was using ground penetrating radar operated by the minerals and geoscience department and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency to assess the condition of the soil around the Masjid India area.

Survey work by the minerals and geoscience department began at the entrance of the Masjid India mosque and encompassed a 65m radius around the mosque,

 said DBKL.

This work will continue tomorrow. - FMT