Bengaluru: Frustrated by the city’s ever-worsening potholes and broken footpaths, residents and journalists of Bengaluru recently staged a creative protest inspired by the hit Netflix show Squid Game. The unique demonstration aimed to draw attention to the dangerous pedestrian conditions and ineffective civic response.
In a now-viral video, protesters were seen running and stumbling across a damaged footpath near St John’s Hospital, dressed in outfits resembling the Squid Game contestants. One individual was captured nearly falling into a pothole — visually symbolizing the real-life risks residents face daily.
The video was captioned: “It’s Skid Game for Namma Bengaluru Journalists”, playing on the show’s title to emphasize the slipping, skidding reality of Bengaluru’s broken walkways.
Netizens React with Humor and Frustration
Online users responded with a mix of laughter and anger. Comments ranged from humorous — “Skip jump and skid game!” — to scathing criticism of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike). One post read, “Respect to all the volunteers who used creativity to highlight a very real issue. Hope BBMP listens.”
Some even described Bengaluru as “the worst city to live in” due to its neglected infrastructure, calling for urgent reforms.
Rituals Over Repairs
This isn’t the first time residents resorted to unconventional protests. Earlier, in Jayanagar, citizens performed a puja on Varamahalakshmi Vratham to a massive pothole, offering flowers, turmeric, and kumkum — a sarcastic prayer for better roads.
These symbolic acts reflect a growing public exasperation with civic apathy, using humor and creativity to demand accountability.