250 men, 24 machines engaged in search ops; victim untraceable

 Shanta Kumar, the excavator operator who was washed away in a drain on Saturday night near Kurubarahalli, remained untraceable even on Monday despite an intensified search operation.

As many as 250 personnel comprising BBMP engineers, firemen, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) searched various locations in vain. The search operation that commenced from Kurubarahalli on Sunday night finally reached Kambipura.

A renewed effort began on Monday with the search team forming two teams and setting out in two boats to search for the missing person. The boats finally reached Byramangala lake where an extensive search began. The rescue teams roped in 24 excavators to trace the missing person.

BBMP chief engineer (SWD) Siddegowda said the search operation did not yield any result. “The teams reached Byramangala lake. There was no success though. We will focus on the lake,” said Siddegowda.

Mayor G Padmavathi said stormwater drains have been neglected over the years. “The only way for water to flow out is through stormwater drains in Bengaluru. Chennai has a robust system where all the water drains out easily. We must make sure encroachments are removed from the stormwater drains. The National Green Tribunal order redefining SWDs must be adhered to strictly,” said Padmavathi.

Shanta Kumar, a native of Maddur, had rushed to get his electrical equipment inside the desilting machine in a stormwater drain near Kurubarahalli when it began to rain on Saturday night. Before he could come out, the water level increased suddenly. Fearing for his life, he tried to jump out of the vehicle but a strong current swept him away.