Heavy rains claim 3 lives in Bengaluru, surroundings on LS poll eve

coastaldigest.com news network

April 18, 2019

Bengaluru, Apr 18: Torrential rains that lashed Karnataka’s capital and surrounding areas on the eve of Lok Sabha polls claimed at least three lives casting a shadow on the turnout for Thursday’s election.

The heavy rain, spanning more than two hours coupled with gusty winds in Bengaluru and adjoining districts, resulted in the uprooting of trees across Bengaluru and surrounding areas. While a motorist was killed in Bengaluru after a tree fell on him, two people died in Doddaballapur due to wall collapse.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), the sudden rain was attributed to the formation of a trough over the peninsular region due to a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal.

According to the forecast, North-South trough and wind discontinuity over Karnataka region will result in moderate to heavy rainfall in South interior Karnataka for the next two days along with thunderstorms. Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural received the highest rainfall.

The whole of the city, barring a few areas in North Bengaluru, witnessed uniform rainfall. Areas in East and South Bengaluru witnessed the highest rainfall, resulting in waterlogging until late evening.

Meteorologists say a steadily building trough and discontinuity of winds over the peninsula caused the heavy downpour. East Bengaluru — Banaswadi, Ramamurthy Nagar and Thanisandra — recorded 70 mm of rain in just two hours. The rain claimed the first victim of the season as a huge tree near Lumbini Gardens in Nagawara fell on a passing motorist.

Hebbal police identified Kiran (27) as the deceased, a courier for a private firm. Kiran was caught in the sudden showers and strong winds while returning home. As he was passing under a tree, a branch suddenly fell on his head. Though passersby rushed to his aid, Kiran, a native of Kunigal in Tumakuru district, had already breathed his last.

Similarly, heavy rain lashed areas in South and West Bengaluru. Nagarabhavi, Jayanagar, Hampi Nagar and RR Nagar witnessed more than 25 mm of rainfall. Sudden showers waterlogged low-lying areas in various BBMP zones.

A senior Palike official, monitoring the situation in all the zones, said Banaswadi and Ramamurthy Nagar received the highest rainfall, followed by a few areas in South and West Bengaluru. “Nineteen trees were uprooted. Over seven electricity poles fell. We have deployed our Prahari team and other officials to remove the trees and clear the area for traffic,” the official said.

According to Bescom engineers, the rain brought down 48 electricity poles. In 57 localities, tree branches fell on electric cables, disrupting power supply. The helpline received over 4,000 complaints of power outages. “Our engineers and field staff have restored power in many areas,” a senior official said.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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