Tragedy in Bengaluru: Two Lives Lost to Floods
Deadly Floods Strike Bengaluru
Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, was hit by its heaviest rainfall this year, leading to three tragic deaths in a single day. Two of the victims, a 12-year-old boy and a 63-year-old man, lost their lives in a shocking incident at an apartment complex in BTM Layout.
Tragic Accident at Apartment Complex
The incident occurred on Monday evening when the victims, Manmohan Kamath and Dinesh, attempted to drain stagnant rainwater from the apartment’s cellar using an electric motor. A short circuit caused a powerful electric shock, claiming the lives of both men.
“Manmohan had brought a motor from outside and connected it to a power source to pump out water from the cellar. During this process, he suffered an electric shock due to a short circuit and died,” explained Sarah Fathima, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South East Division. “Dinesh, who was helping him, also suffered an electric shock and died on the spot,” she added.
Earlier in the day, a 35-year-old woman housekeeper tragically died in Whitefield when a compound wall collapsed under the weight of heavy rains.
Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
Bengaluru experienced over six hours of relentless rain on the night of Sunday and into Monday. The intense downpour led to widespread waterlogging, inundating roads, basements, and low-lying areas across the city.
Government Response
In response to the crisis, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that the government had identified 210 flood-prone areas in the city. He highlighted that efforts were underway to address these issues, with 70% of the identified areas already resolved.
Shivakumar emphasized the government’s commitment to mitigating flood risks, stating that they had built 197 km of stormwater drains and allocated Rs 2,000 crore for this purpose. He acknowledged that certain areas, such as Silk Board Junction, Hebbal, and Yelahanka, had experienced particularly heavy rainfall, affecting ongoing underpass works.
Shivakumar concluded by saying, ‘Rain is controlled by nature. We are focusing on what we can control – identifying and fixing flood-prone zones and helping citizens cope.’
