Bengaluru rain havoc, priority is to save lives: DCM

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar responded to the ongoing rain-related chaos in Bengaluru on  Tuesday, assuring citizens that the administration is on high alert and doing everything to manage the situation. Speaking near his residence in Sadashivanagar, Shivakumar acknowledged that two people had died due to the heavy rains, and said that authorities were alerted about the fatalities last night.

“I had dispatched teams immediately last night. Instructions have been issued to all concerned officials, and everyone is out in the field attending to the situation. There’s no need for panic. Our top priority is to save lives,” he said, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will visit some of the affected spots tomorrow, while he himself had toured several locations last night.

Reacting to the BJP's criticism of the city's infrastructure and brand image, Shivakumar stated, “They say Bengaluru is sinking. But can anyone stop nature? Let them troll or criticize. We are doing our duty. I welcome the rain. Let people say what they want. The more it rains, the better it is for the state.”

Addressing complaints about road damage, he said, “Works are ongoing. We’re constructing permanent concrete roads to resolve this in the long term.”

 The rain fury continued to wreak havoc across Bengaluru for the third consecutive day. After a brief respite last night, the rains resumed early this morning, severely impacting daily life. Several parts of the city witnessed waterlogging, causing major inconvenience to commuters and residents. Despite BBMP personnel being deployed to clear waterlogged roads, citizens reported that the efforts were not yielding effective results due to a lack of proper drainage.