Men and machines of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Fire Department spared no efforts in the search. They dug the culvert on the main drain on the Lokesh Tent Road, but could not find the body. The search team then went to dig out another culvert.
“We are trying our best to trace the body. We fear the body might have reached Nagavara lake. However, the search operation will not be halted until the body is traced,” said the BBMP Joint Commissioner (East Zone) S Puttaswamy. He added that the boy was swept away in seconds as there was huge flow of water in the drains owing to heavy rains on Sunday. The BBMP has paid an immediate compensation of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased.
This incident has come as a wake up call for the BBMP, as two have already fallen victims even as moonsoon is yet to set in in full form. Puttaswamy said that instructions have been given to the sanitary workers to discharge their duties diligently and cover the manholes and stormwater drains properly.
Job sought
Meanwhile, Prakash, the father of Abhishek, has urged the BBMP to provide him a job and ensure quality education for his daughter, Divya.
The death of his son has come as a rude shock for Prakash, who is reeling under poverty. “I can neither walk properly nor take up hard work. I have requested the government to at least enable me to maintain my family in a dignified way,” he said. Prakash said that the Palike should take care to ensure that such tragedies do not recur.
Bharathi, the mother of Abhishek is yet to come to terms with the loss of her son. She has not consumed food for the last two days and is on IV fluid.
Angry welcome
Later in the evening, when BBMP Commissioner, Dr S Subramanya rushed to the spot, he had to face an angry group of residents.
Citing the Palike’s apathy in the episode, the residents shouted slogans against BBMP and the Commissioner.