Rain relief measures reveal civic loopholes

Rain relief measures reveal civic loopholes

Deccan Herald


Continued rain relief operations were hampered on Wednesday due to lack of co-ordination between civic agencies.

While trees fell across the City following more heavy rainfall, Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials said they were not receiving any co-operation from Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).

“We are flooded with complaints of trees falling, but when they fall on electric poles, we have to ask Bescom to cut off power supply but either there’s no response on the phone or it’s continunously engaged. We can’t do anything till power is cut off,” said a BMP control room official.


Bescom officials said that cellphone numbers had been given to the Palike in case of break-down. “We are co-ordinating day and night. Our own complaints cell gets continuous calls,” said Bescom chief engineer Kumaraswamy.

Several trees fell in areas like Jayanagar, JP Nagar VI phase, Koramangala and Ashoknagar in Wednesday’s gusty winds. Power blacked out in parts of Audugodi, after a 66 KV power conductor fell. It took over four hours for the KPTCL to restore supply.

Another 66 KV transmission line was cut off from the Hoody station, plunging areas around Indiranagar into darkness. Power supply was restored after two hours. However, there were no rain-related casualties.