NO RELIEF: Hennur Main Road in Bangalore remained under water on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Life was disrupted and relief work hampered as the skies opened up again on Thursday. Non-availability of drinking water, delay in relief operations, power shutdown, disruption in telephone services and flooded roads made life miserable for Bangaloreans.

A false alarm that a thunderstorm will hit the city towards evening caused panic among the people, and many people left their places of work early. Several cellphone users received SMS "alerts" about a "storm". The Meteorological Department clarified that it did not issue an alert.

According to the forecast, there may be intermittent rain in the city in the next 48 hours. Heavy showers are likely.

Many localities, such as Thanisandra, Hennur, Geddalahalli, Puttenahalli, J.P. Nagar, Bommanahalli, Kengeri and Rajarajeshwarinagar, are still marooned, and the authorities fear an outbreak of epidemic.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has ensured adequate stocks of medicines at its health centres and kept its medical personnel on alert to handle any outbreak of epidemic, sources in the BMP said.

Lack of preparedness to handle a disaster of this magnitude, poor infrastructure and continued discharge from overflowing water bodies have led to a delay in starting relief operations.

Sources in the Fire and Emergency Services told The Hindu that firemen are finding it difficult to pump out water from low-lying areas as there are no proper outlets. They said firemen, who are working overtime, have pumped out water from 35 areas that were severely affected. "The magnitude of the problem is such that we are unable to reach all areas. Moreover, some of our vehicles and equipment have to be kept aside for emergencies such as fire accidents," they said.

Sources said the department is arranging for additional rafts to rescue people. Five rafts, which can carry up to 10 people each, are in use. Nearly 2,000 people have been rescued. People in flooded areas complained that they continue to face acute scarcity of drinking water. In several places, pipelines has been damaged and sewage got mixed with drinking water.

Tank breaches

A house collapsed in Vyalikaval, and the Rampura tank at Kalkere, off Ramamurthynagar breached in the early hours of Thursday. As water from the tank flowed onto the road and entered houses, people staged a demonstration and demanded immediate relief.

The body of a 22-year-old woman from Andrahalli in 2nd Stage, Peenya, who was washed way in flash floods on Monday night, was found in a drain near Tavarekere police station limits.

Traffic situation

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) M. Abdullah Saleem said the traffic situation has returned to near normality on the busy Hosur Road, which was under water for three days, and in other areas.

Protest in Mysore

Mysore Staff Correspondent writes:

The problems of residents of rain-affected areas in Mysore continue as the district administration has failed to provide relief. In the worst-affected areas in Narasimha Raja constituency, people continue to cook in the open, in unhygienic conditions.

On Thursday morning, residents of Shanthi Nagar gathered at the residence of corporator Venu Gopal protesting against "lack of response" from elected representatives and officials. They said their representatives have not take steps to provide relief.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail