Bengaluru: The heavy downpour, with hailstorms on Thursday uprooted around 35 trees across the city and over the last three days more than a hundred have fallen in the aftermath. That’s not all. The falling trees have brought down power lines plunging some areas into darkness and heat for the last couple of days. A prime example is Banashankari II stage.
A huge tree fell on the residence of Sheela Suresh, a resident of 44, of 20th Cross, Banashankari II Stage, from across the road, mangling high-tension wires and destroyed an electricity pole. It remained like that for two days and the entire area was without power.
Bescom staff, told the residents to get the BBMP to cut the tree first.”We spent the whole of the next day calling BBMP officials. Finally, a group of men came but disturbed a beehive in the tree, and went away when the bees stung them. After they left, some neighbors held me responsible for the inconvenience because I didn’t allow Bescom staff to restore power supply on Thursday night,” Sheela told the Times of India. Students of the area, including Sheela’s daughter, are struggling to prepare for their examinations. Finally on saturday the BBMP forest cell officers came and did the needful.
Koramangala is no better. Four blocks -housing thousands of residents, offices and commercial establishments -have been in the dark for two days. Devesh R Agarwal, an industrialist and resident of Koramangala V Block, said, “The transformer in front of our house was out of service after the squall on Thursday afternoon. There has been no power since then. Bescom staff said the wiring for Koramangala is completely damaged and has to replaced.”
Residents rue that Bescom officials switch off their cellphones and do not respond after 9pm. “My office is in Koramangala V Block and I live in VIII Block. It’s manageable at office. But at home, I’ve been using an LED torch for the past two days. My parents came to Bengaluru for the first time on Friday night and are inconvenienced,” Sudip Banerjee, a resident of Koramangala VIII Block, said.
