'Another Day In Paradise': JDS Slams Siddaramaiah After Woman Falls Into Pothole On Waterlogged Bengaluru Street

HD Deve Gowda’s party Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday slammed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over Bengaluru’s “crumbling infrastructure”, after a physically challenged woman fell into a pothole on a waterlogged street in the city.

A video of the woman, struggling to make her way out, was widely shared on social media, thus triggering an outrage.

The video was also shared by the JDS on its official X handle.

According to other handles that shared the video, the incident happened in Varthur, a suburb in the eastern periphery of Bengaluru.

Welcome to *Brand Bengaluru*! Where a physically challenged woman falling into a pothole during heavy rains is just another day in paradise. While

Siddaramaiah & DK Shivakumar keep patting themselves on the back for their ‘visionary’ governance, the city’s crumbling infrastructure is doing all the talking,” the JDS wrote in its X post.

“BBMP’s mastery in turning roads into death traps is unmatched. *Bravo* on setting new standards of neglect and irresponsibility,” it added.

Also reacting to the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in an X post wrote, “State of Affairs in Karnataka especially in Bengaluru thanks to Congress.”

“A physically challenged woman recently fell into a pothole in Varthur. Loot, Jhooth & Scoot model of Khata Khat politics has ruined Karnataka infrastructure, law and order and financial situation. Will Siddharamiah & Shivkumar take responsibility?” he asked.

SIDDARAMAIAH SAYS ‘WILL PROVIDE COMPENSATION’

Soon after the incident caught attention, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a statement, said his government would compensate for the loss caused by natural calamities. He also said he was monitoring all rain-related disasters.

“We will provide compensation for loss caused by natural calamities resulting from rainfall. We are monitoring rain-related disasters and are making all necessary preparations. A site survey is also underway,” the Chief Minister said.

TWO CHILDREN FEARED DROWNED

As heavy rain pounded the city the past week, two siblings were feared drowned in the Kengeri lake, news agency PTI quoted police officials as saying.

The children, a boy and a girl were living with their mother in a slum next to the lake and were missing since Monday evening, it stated.

Additionally, another video on X showed a severely waterlogged Kendriya Vihar apartment, near the Yelahanka Lake.

Several areas were waterlogged and normal life was crippled after heavy rain battered Bengaluru the past week.

In view of the downpour, the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadish G ordered the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres on Monday.

This was the second time within a week that schools were being shut owing to rains in Bengaluru.

People waded through the flooded roads to reach their destination. Several trees came down crashing in the city affecting vehicular movement.