MCC booked for turning blind eye on 'death pit'

A 21-year-old youth had a lucky escape from falling into 35 foot pit

In a first of its kind in the recent past, the city police have lodged a complaint against the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) authorities for turning a blind-eye towards a pit that continues to invite danger.

This follows an incident on Saturday night, in which a 21-year-old youth had a miraculous escape from falling into a 35 feet-deep pit on the service road of the outer-ring road near Bannur Road. It was the same pit that had claimed a life in September last.

Bijjala Kumar, an engineering student from Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, had come to his relative’s place at Gokulam here. He was returning home after meeting his friend at Rajiv Nagar, when he came across the pit between Bannur and Mahadevapura (Azeez Sait Double Road) ring road junction.

According to Lashkar police, Kumar may have noticed the pit only after climbing the mound of soil surrounding the pit. He jumped to his right, while the mobike went down into the pit. He suffered minor injuries and is out of danger.

Taking serious note of the incident, Devaraja Traffic Police Inspector Susheela (as Lashkar station is a branch of Devaraja station), lodged a complaint with Udayagiri police under IPC Section 283 for being irresponsible in completing civic works that may be harmful to road users.

Besides, a letter has been written to the MCC, seeking action against the engineer concerned for dereliction of duty. The authorities have also been requested to put barricades around the pit to avert mishaps.

On November 22, 2013, Syed Abdul Razak (56), an NRI had died after accidentally falling into the same pit. A resident of Muscat, Razak was visiting his family in Lashkar Mohalla here.