Normalcy still to return in rain-hit Vijayanagar area

Normalcy still to return in rain-hit Vijayanagar area
Bangalore, April 22, DH News Service:

Wednesday night’s rain havoc saw most areas of Bangalore split open due to the tree falls and power cuts.

Gusting winds up to the speed of 45 to 55 kmph blew through the afternoon and late evening which saw most citizens ducking for cover.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which sprung into swift response has stated that most tree falls obstructing traffic have been removed in three-fourth of the City and work was still in progress in parts of South and West Bangalore.

Overall, as many as 517 trees and branches had fallen on Wednesday.

On Thursday, taking stock of the situation, the BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena went on an early morning inspection in parts of Vijayanagar and other badly-affected areas. Officials state that the Commissioner had directed the zonal chiefs to ensure all equipment and private labourers were hired to clear the damages in the City.

The BBMP has diverted all its regular staff from Mysore Road and other regions to clear the debris in the aftermath of the nature’s fury. The Palike has formed 25 teams, all of them working in West and South zonal divisions of the BBMP.

Power not restored

Work to restore power lines after nearly 200 poles were damaged in Vijayanagar area during the Wednesday rains continued well into Thursday, but there was no respite for some residents. Citizens called up Deccan Herald office on Thursday evening and complained that the fallen poles had not yet been removed from their streets.

Jayshankar of Kalyannagar said that no one had come to their street to clear the pole that had fallen across the street, despite calls to the Bescom office. “It is already evening now, so they are likely to come only by tomorrow. There is no power and no water either,” he complained. After 24 hours without power, the water in the tanks have dried up and they are at the mercy of the electric utility.

By late Thursday night, Bescom had managed to restore power to 85 per cent of the areas.

Senior Engineer for Bangalore North, H Narayan Naik said areas like MG Layout, Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Vijayanagar main bus stop, BDA Complex and Govindrajnagar were the only places remaining where the trees had not been cleared and repair work was yet to be completed.

He said that officials will be working in the night too and restore power to all areas by Friday morning. Since installing the poles again is taking time, Bescom has been looping the wires through other poles and routing power.