No let-up in Bengaluru rain havoc, 5 more dead

Five people, including two women, were killed and a dozen others injured since Friday as heavy monsoon rains continued to pound the city, wreaking havoc and flooding several localities, said a civic official on Saturday.

"Heavy downpour with thunderstorm and gusty winds in the city claimed five lives since Friday night. A temple priest, a couple and a mother and daughter died in rain-related incidents," Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) spokesman N. Suresh told IANS.

Among the victims, Vasudev, 40, a priest in Ganesha temple in Basaveshwarnagar slipped into a storm-water drain and drowned. The fire brigade personnel recovered his body in an open culvert a km away from the spot.

"Meenakshi, 55, and her daughter Pushpalatha, 22, were washed away when the flood water entered their house in a low-laying area at Laggere (in the western suburbs). Their bodies are yet to be traced despite day-long search," said Suresh.

Shankarappa, 55, and his wife Kamalamma, 44, were found dead earlier in the day at Kuruburahalli in the north-west suburb when the wall of the old house crashed and fell on them as they were clearing the rain water in a room.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who visited the rain-affected areas along with Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George and City Mayor Sampath Raj, took stock of the situation and declared Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of the victims.

"The toll in rain-related incidents across the city has gone up to 8 this season," added Suresh.

Though the south-west monsoon was set to end in September, it remained active during its withdrawal phase even as the north-east monsoon is a week away.

"The city received 181 mm rain since October 1 and the forecast is moderate to heavy rains will continue till the onset of the north-east monsoon from October 20," said regional met director Sundar Metri.

An active monsoon led to heavy rains in and around the city this season, with a record 430 mm rainfall in September and 250 mm in August.

--IANS

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