Saturday gives respite to harassed citizens

Saturday gives respite to harassed citizens
The Times of India

Bangalore: The dark clouds gathered again on Saturday, bringing back memories of Friday. It rained too, but it wasn’t that bad. The city limped back to normal only to learn that nearly three lives were lost in Friday’s deluge.

The streets wore a beaten look with fallen trees, debris and silt. For hundreds of families in lowlying areas which had fled their homes or spent five to six hours bailing out water, Saturday gave a welcome respite.

Early hours of Saturday too were occupied in getting all the water out, while many others waited for the power supply to be restored. With nearly 200 electric poles and power lines crumbling under the onslaught, Bescom was hard at work.

People complained that power supply had not been restored at several places even after 27 hours. While the BCC control room received complaints of 52 fallen trees since Friday night, an unofficial count puts the tree toll at almost 150. 53 complaints of flooding were reported from across the city Friday night through Saturday morning.

“Things seem to have returned to normal all around the city. The brief spell of rain on Saturday has not caused too much damage,’’ a BCC official said. Till Saturday evening, 16 trees were uprooted, 80 tree branches had fallen, causing traffic jams in east and south Bangalore. Horticulture department officials rushed to the spot and removed the trees ensuring free traffic movement.

Six cars were damaged in J.P. Nagar, Malleswaram, Rajajinagar and Vijayanagar, while water entered houses in Ejipura, Koramangala, Jogalapalya, Thippasandra, HAL II stage, Ittimadu, Indiranagar, Cox Town, Tannery Road, Frazer Town, Sampangiram Nagar and Shantinagar.