How many need to die for BBMP to cover its drains?
BM met families of other victims of open drains and find the story is the same, in each case: BBMP negligence
Suki Bai, 85, shudders when anybody asks her about her husband, Pukhraj Jain. Jain fell into a roadside drain and died on the spot, 11 years ago, just outside his house on Jain temple road in V V Puram.
Jain was washed away nearly 200 metres. “The other parts of the drain were fully covered. He died because he was not able to breathe. After 45 minutes, we found his body,” Suki says.
If Jain’s is the oldest case in recent memory, meet the devastated family of Rihan, 3, who was washed away in a storm water drain just behind his house in February 2011. Siddiqui Pasha, Rihan’s father, says: “BBMP has done nothing to safeguard the lives of residents in Rupena Agrahara, attached to the big drain heading towards Bellandur Lake. After the incident, BBMP officials came and installed only two poles and went away. They had promised to put a concrete wall to cover the drain water, but have left it unattended.’
Siddiqui himself put in the money to cover up the uncovered portion that killed his son. “I heard about the tragedy of Geethalakshmi and I literary cried. BBMP officials should be booked under murder charges. They should be held responsible. They are not learning any lessons despite so many incident occurred.”
Bharathi, mother of Abhishek, 6, who was washed away in an open drain near Lingarajpuram in June 2009, says: “I felt very bad after my daughter informed me that another incident had occurred, claiming the life o f a girl, like Abhi. My stomach hurts every time I hear such things. Officials don’t have a heart, they don’t lose their kin. Every time it rains, the entire scene of Abhi being washed away comes up before my eyes…”
Suki Bai, 85, shudders when anybody asks her about her husband, Pukhraj Jain. Jain fell into a roadside drain and died on the spot, 11 years ago, just outside his house on Jain temple road in V V Puram.
She recalls it vividly. It was around 6 pm on Dhanteras day. “He was coming home for dinner. It was raining heavily. He had brought some fruits with him. He got off an autorickshaw and just slipped into an open drain. The neighbours saw the incident and alerted everyone in the locality, but nobody could save him.”
Jain was washed away nearly 200 metres. “The other parts of the drain were fully covered. He died because he was not able to breathe. After 45 minutes, we found his body,” Suki says.
If Jain’s is the oldest case in recent memory, meet the devastated family of Rihan, 3, who was washed away in a storm water drain just behind his house in February 2011. Siddiqui Pasha, Rihan’s father, says: “BBMP has done nothing to safeguard the lives of residents in Rupena Agrahara, attached to the big drain heading towards Bellandur Lake. After the incident, BBMP officials came and installed only two poles and went away. They had promised to put a concrete wall to cover the drain water, but have left it unattended.’
Siddiqui himself put in the money to cover up the uncovered portion that killed his son. “I heard about the tragedy of Geethalakshmi and I literary cried. BBMP officials should be booked under murder charges. They should be held responsible. They are not learning any lessons despite so many incident occurred.”
Bharathi, mother of Abhishek, 6, who was washed away in an open drain near Lingarajpuram in June 2009, says: “I felt very bad after my daughter informed me that another incident had occurred, claiming the life o f a girl, like Abhi. My stomach hurts every time I hear such things. Officials don’t have a heart, they don’t lose their kin. Every time it rains, the entire scene of Abhi being washed away comes up before my eyes…”
