Bengaluru: Negligence leads to a child’s death
What should have been a day of celebration turned into a tragedy for the family of 10-year-old Tanvi Krishna, who died in a road accident on Thursday morning near Srinivasapura on Kogilu Main Road.
Tanvi was riding pillion with her mother and sister on a scooter when the two-wheeler lost balance after hitting a heap of mud left on the road. The child fell and was crushed under a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus.
The accident has once again highlighted the perils of civic negligence in the city, as residents blame the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for failing to clear debris from the carriageway.
Heaps of mud remain days after accident
Despite the fatal incident, conditions on the road remain unchanged. On Saturday, a visit to the accident site revealed mounds of silt dumped along the road after desilting drains. These heaps continued to encroach on the carriageway, leaving little space for both motorists and pedestrians.
Alarmingly, a mound of sand was spotted barely 10 metres away from the very spot where Tanvi lost her life.
A frustrated resident questioned, “How can the chief minister, deputy chief minister, or senior bureaucracy remain unmoved after such a tragedy? Why has no official been suspended, no one held accountable?”
Another local pointed out that the least authorities could have done was to clear the road after the accident, but instead the silt piles remain, posing further risks.
Residents highlight constant danger
Locals said the road has been unsafe for months due to ongoing civic works. KV Reddy, a resident of Maruthinagar, noted that constant digging, poor dividers, and heavy traffic made the stretch particularly dangerous.
“Whenever it rains, the divider won’t even be visible to vehicles. This road is narrow, yet buses and heavy vehicles pass through, making it risky for bikers,” he said.
Nawaz, a footwear shop worker near the accident spot, recalled hearing the crash. “That night, they removed the heap from the exact accident spot, but the rest still remains,” he said.
Months of trouble and repeated disruptions
Commuters and vendors said the condition of the road has been poor for the last six months. Even after repairs, repeated digging and desilting works left the stretch perpetually blocked.
One commuter said, “Ever since they repaired this road, I have never seen it free to its full width. Some or the other work keeps happening all the time.”
A roadside vendor complained that the constant mess has hurt his business. “If I complain, they will remove my pushcart instead of solving the problem,” he alleged.
A crucial yet hazardous road
The road connects Bellahalli and Yelahanka, providing crucial access to NH-44, several IT hubs including Manyata Tech Park and Bagmane, as well as Kempegowda International Airport.
BMTC buses bound for Hoskote and Mittaganahalli also use the stretch, increasing traffic density. Residents said minor and major accidents are frequent in the area.
The heaps of mud and ongoing Metro construction nearby have also worsened dust and pollution levels.
Civic body response
When contacted, a BBMP official said, “The heaps of silt will be removed at the earliest.” However, residents remain sceptical, pointing out that similar assurances have been given in the past without any lasting results.
Conclusion
Tanvi’s tragic death has underscored the urgent need for civic agencies to prioritise public safety over bureaucratic delays. Until accountability is fixed and roads are maintained responsibly, residents fear that more lives will be lost to preventable accidents.