Tree falls on car, 3 die; Teen washed away in rain

Bengaluru: Three people from the same family including a woman died on Friday after a massive thunderstorm and heavy rains lashed Bengaluru, bringing more than 80 trees crashing down and cutting power supply across the city.

One tree fell on the hapless family's car near Minerva Circle, crushing them to death, while an 18-year-old youth, driving pillion who had got down from his motorbike to pick up his fallen bag, fell into a drain and was washed away in Sheshadripuram and is feared dead. Fire and Emergency services were launched immediately to rescue the victim, but 18 year old Varun could not be found.

In the fifth consecutive week since the monsoons unleashed their fury, the BBMP Control room was flooded with calls from panicked civilians.   Bengaluru South was the worst affected with many complaints of trees falling. Waterlogging reached hitherto unseen proportions in RT Nagar, KR Market, Koramangala, Shantinagar, Jayanagar, BTM, HBR, HRBR Layout.

 Most parts of the city were under water, several roads completely inundated, many parked cars were seen with only their windows above water, drainwater had entered homes, trees, uprooted and collapsing on moving traffic and pedestrians wading through waist deep floods. Huge trees fell and damaged cars in RV Road, next to Corporator Vani Rao's office. South West Monsoon rain, managed to create a deluge in Anugraha layout, within a short span of 45 minutes. Once again, the city has been brought to its knees.

Torrential rains in the city on Friday night claimed four lives in two separate incidents.

Three of a family, including a woman, died when a huge tree fell on their car near Minerva Circle while an 18-year-old teen got washed away in Sheshadripuram and is feared dead.

At Minerva Circle, around 8 pm a huge Nilgiri tree fell on the car, killing three of its occupants, on the Dispensary Road Cross in Kalasipalya police station limits.

The deceased have been identified as Bharathi, 38, a home guard who was deputed to BBMP, her husband Ramesh, 42, and Bharathi’s brother Jagadish, 46. All were residents of Summanahalli.

According to eyewitnesses, there were five occupants in a Maruti Esteem car (registration number KA-02-N-0771). They had reportedly come to get the car repaired.

As it was raining heavily, they had sat inside the car, which was parked near an Nilgiri tree. It is said that a man went to them and asked them to park the car in a safe place, as there were trees around.

Though the driver tried to turn on the ignition, the car did not start. Few minutes later, due to gusty winds a huge Nilgiri tree fell on the car. BBMP Mayor G. Padmavathi visited the spot around 11.15 pm along with BBMP officials. She said that according to preliminary information, the family had come from Hoskote to get the car repaired and had stopped the vehicle as it was raining heavily.

In another incident, an 18-year-old teen got washed away in an open stormwater drain near Seshadripuram railway underpass on Friday evening. The boy, identified as Varun, a resident of Vyalikaval, stepped on the open drain unknowingly.

The incident took place at around 7.30 and the search operation by locals and staff from Fire and Emergency services were launched immediately to rescue the victim. However, he could not be found till the paper went to the press.

The Fire and Emergency services staff found it difficult to enter the drain as it was completely covered, except for the place where Varun fell. However, they opened up the connecting drains to look for Varun, but in vain.

According to Varun’s friend who was riding with him, Varun got off the bike when his bag fell. As there was knee-deep water on the road, the bag went towards open drain covered with water and he unknowingly stepped on the uncovered portion of the drain. It is learnt that the drain connects to a bigger storm water drain in Srirampura.

BBMP Mayor G. Padmavathi along with other officials visited the spot.