Residents return to Kendriya Vihar

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Normalcy is slowly returning to Kendriya Vihar after five horrendous days that resulted in people being rescued from the flooded premises in boats. Most of the water has now been drained out, after the BBMP deployed an earth mover to bring down a section of the compound wall. Families who were evacuated have slowly started returning home.

Residents who were present on Tuesday morning were seen complaining to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who visited the storm hit building. They narrated their plight, saying they have been suffering since Thursday and requested him to find a permanent solution to the problem.

“Most of the families who shifted to their friends and relatives’ homes are returning today. Six blocks have been cleared and two are still waterlogged. The Chief Minister has said he will take measures to prevent future flooding,” said Shiva Prasad, President, Kendriya Vihar Residents ’ Welfare Association.

The residents said they were happy with the arrangements made by Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath and volunteers. They also appreciated the volunteers who supplied essential commodities including medicines.

“We have to thank our MLA for helping us. He has not only pressed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire and Emergency Service personnel into service but also had a doctor and an ambulance vehicle on hand to attend medical emergencies,’’ said a resident.

Ugrappa Gowda, the maintenance contractor of Kendriya Vihar, has said the two electric motors which were used to pump water from Kendriya Vihar premises have become defunct. “Our MLA has provided us with two more electric motor pumps. We will supply water to the overhead tanks as soon as electricity is restored. We are expecting electricity to be restored by 5 pm,’’ said Ugrappa Gowda.

The Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) engineers have stopped power supply on Thursday when the premises are flooded with rain water. “We pray to God not to make us suffer this way again. It is for the first time in 15 years that we have seen Kendriya Vihar’s premises flooded with water from a neighbouring lake,’’ said a resident.