22-year-old Bhanu Rekha dies in a tragic incident in Bengaluru’s K.R. Circle underpass amid heavy rains.
In a tragic incident on Sunday afternoon, a 22-year-old woman named Bhanu Rekha, an employee of Infosys, lost her life when the car she was travelling in with her family submerged in water at the K.R. Circle underpass in Bengaluru. Despite barricades being in place to prevent entry into the underpass, they had collapsed due to the heavy rains and winds, leading the driver to make the ill-fated decision to enter the area.
Eyewitness Prabhakar Reddy, who took part in the rescue operation, explained to reporters that fellow commuters had come together to break open the car doors and save the trapped family. Although they managed to rescue the other five family members and the driver, Bhanu Rekha tragically passed away after being taken to the hospital.
Reddy, who bravely joined the fire department in the rescue efforts, recounted his experience: “I noticed people trapped inside and immediately sought assistance from the Fire Department. I tied a rope around myself and jumped into the water, doing everything I could to help.”
K.R. Circle, located in the heart of Bengaluru, is known to experience flooding during heavy rainfall. The family, visiting Bengaluru from Andhra Pradesh, had rented the car for sightseeing. While attempting to cross the underpass, the vehicle became submerged in water up to the neck. Fire and Rescue services arrived at the scene and utilised ladders to rescue the family. Television channels broadcasted the live visuals of the rescue operation.Â
A member of the Fire Department involved in the rescue disclosed that when they arrived with life jackets, ropes, and lifebuoy rings, five people, including the driver, were sitting on top of the car, crying out that someone was still trapped inside. “They didn’t speak the local language and were scared and crying. We managed to pull the young woman out of the car, but sadly, we couldn’t save her life,” the rescuer stated.
After the rescue operation, the family was immediately transported to the nearby St Martha’s Hospital by the fire department and a few volunteers. However, the volunteers accused the hospital staff of neglecting Bhanu Rekha’s treatment. Reddy expressed his disappointment, stating, “I arranged an auto-rickshaw and sent her to the hospital. When I arrived after 20 minutes, the patient was lying unattended. The hospital staff didn’t provide her with first aid or treatment.”
Compensation Announced for Bereaved Family as City Grapples with Heavy Rainfall
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, upon learning of the incident, visited St Martha’s Hospital and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the grieving family. He further emphasised the need to close all underpasses during heavy rainfall. “This underpass frequently gets flooded. We should have closed traffic in such situations, but this incident occurred unexpectedly. There is a slope on both sides, and water accumulates in the middle,” he explained.
Chief Minister Cancels ‘Zero Traffic’ Protocol Following Public Concerns
In the wake of public concerns and the recent tragic incident, CM Siddaramaiah has made the decision to cancel the ‘Zero Traffic’ protocol that was enforced during his road travels. The protocol involved imposing traffic restrictions on the public until the top dignitary had passed. The CM’s decision aligns with the request made by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in 2021 to do away with the privilege of ‘zero traffic’ for his convoy.
City Witnesses Waterlogging and Disruption in Daily Life
Bengaluru experienced heavy rainfall and hailstorms on Sunday, leading to severe waterlogging and disruption in multiple parts of the city. The IMD had forecasted rain and thundershowers in Bengaluru Urban, with further rain expected in the district until May 25. Additional districts such as Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru, and Chitradurga are also predicted to witness rain and thunderstorms.
