Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court will on Tuesday Ocotber 14 take up a public interest plea filed against the city corporation by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation for negligence following the death of a nine-year-old girl who was swept away into an uncovered storm water drain last week following heavy rains in the city.

The Namma Bangaluru Foundation and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekar have in the joint public interest litigation (PIL) sought High Court directives to the state government to conduct an inquiry against city officials for dereliction of duty and criminal prosecution.

“It is not an isolated incident. Three individuals have already lost their lives in similar cases in the city, two of them being as young as three and six-years-old. The civic agency continues with its callous attitude,” the petitioners have stated.

Referring to recent High Court directions to initiate suo-moto action against government officials if deaths occur in uncovered and abandoned pits, the petitioners have sought fixing of accountability on the city corporation for the safety and security of people.

The PIL has sought directives to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike to immediately close all open drains and manholes across the city and erect sufficient signage and warnings to caution the public. The PIL seeks immediate intervention from the Urban Development Department and the BBMP for a time bound and comprehensive action plan on open drains and manholes.