More than 72 hours after parts of southeast Bengaluru were flooded, many residents in Kodichikkanahalli are still grappling with the problem of power and drinking water supply.
Most families that had vacated their homes on Friday following rise in flood water level, moved back by Saturday evening after water was pumped out. However, even by Monday afternoon power supply was yet to be restored to some and many water lines are rendered useless.
“We cleaned our house and moved back by Saturday night itself but, ever since the rain began and until now we have not had electricity. The big houses in the nearby Anugraha Layout have their electricity back. The rescue trucks have also left,” said Mrs. Venkat, a grocery-shop owner. She added that their entire stock of flour, sugar and other ration items were spoilt.
“We have attended to all complaints received through our two call centres. There were several complaints about apartment complexes. However, if there are some individual complaints, we will attend to it,” said Bescom MD Rajendra Cholan.
Water supply has been a problem since Friday morning. “In some areas, where our lines have been inundated we have been supplying water in trucks. We have also provided around four trucks to help apartments pump out water from their basements. But, wherever our direct pipes have not in running order, the water supply is unaffected,” said BWSSB Chairman Tushar Girinath.
Dead rats
Several residents are also dealing with dead rats, and snakes, surfacing after the overflowing drain water was removed. “There are several dead rats which have come to the surface after the waters overflowed. Even while the desilting work, dead rats are emerging along with snakes. We have been receiving several panic calls about snake sightings, some of them genuine that are being attended a team that is on emergency stand-by,” said Mohan, snake volunteer who heads the Quick Animal Rescue Team.
Mosquito menace
Large puddles of stagnant water in front of homes, and open drains that are yet to be closed have residents worried about mosquitoes and attendant diseases. “There is a lot of stagnant water and mosquitoes have increased after the rain stopped, and it is worrisome. Large piles of mud which were made at the entrances to help with the water drainage has also not been removed,” said Ananya Giridhar, another resident of Kodichikkanahalli.
