3 of family killed, one washed away in drain

Bengaluru, Sept 9: Three persons were killed on the spot and one was washed away in heavy rain that uprooted hundreds of trees and several electric poles in the city on Friday.

Ramesh (42), wife Bharathi (38) and Bharathi’s brother Jagadish (46) — all residents of Summanhalli and natives of Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural district — were killed on the spot when a huge eucalyptus tree came crashing down on their parked Esteem car on Dispensary Road cross near Minerva Circle.

Bharathi was working as a home guard, deputed to the BBMP. Two others with them in the car were critically injured and admitted to Victoria Hospital.

In Sheshadripuram, an 18-year-old youth was washed away in a drain.

Varun was returning home from Jayanagar when his two-wheeler broke down in four-foot deep water.

He was towing the bike when he lost control of it. Eyewitnesses said that he was last seen trying to lift the vehicle. A team of the National Disaster Relief Force was called in to trace Varun.

Later, his body was found near Kino theatre underpass. It has been sent for postmortem.

Rs 5 lakh relief

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

Intermittent rain, which started around 2 pm, continued till late in the evening. Thousands of people were stranded on the roads with every major intersection inundated with up to six feet of water, particularly near underpasses.

There were reports of hundreds of trees and electric poles being uprooted, plunging several areas into darkness.

According to the local India Meteorological Department, by 11.30 pm, the city witnessed 6.84 cm of rainfall, and HAL airport 2.1 cm.

The BBMP control room was flooded with calls from residents across the city with complaints of inundation, clogged drains, power cuts, and trees and electric poles coming crashing down.

The BBMP, however, said that only 65 trees were uprooted.

The highest number of tree falls was reported from around Lal Bagh, Basavanagudi, Jayanagar, JP Nagar and Koramangala. Several vehicles were also damaged.

Minister George was in the control room between 8.20 pm and 9.30 pm, receiving calls from affected citizens.

Reacting to the deaths, Mayor Padmavathi said that tree falls during heavy rain was expected. “We should identify weak trees and cut them down,” she said.

More rain expected

The IMD has forecast heavy rain and thundershowers for city and most parts of the state over the next two days.