KUALA LUMPUR: Two elderly women – who were among hundreds of senior citizens – died while rushing for free meal vouchers that were being handed out by a shopping mall in Pudu, here today.
In the 12.04pm incident, police were alerted by a passer-by that some six people were unconscious after collapsing at the mall along Jalan Kijang here.
Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Shaharuddin Abdullah said upon receiving the distress call, a police team from the Tun H. S. Lee police station were sent to the scene.
“We dispatched personnel to the scene and found two bodies motionless on the floor. Initial checks revealed no foul play or crime element was involved,“ he said when contacted by theSun.
He added that further investigations revealed that there was a food coupon programme for elderly people at the location from 11am to 1pm.
“The organisers prepared 200 coupons but over a thousand people turned up at the mall.
“The two deceased women were identified as Ah Poh, 85, and Law Ion Nang, 78.
“According to the paramedics, the deceased had difficulty breathing when they were caught in the crowd,“ he said, adding that their bodies have been sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for a post-mortem.
