Shwetha writhes in pain as blame game begins

Shwetha has so far spent over Rs 1 lakh on treatment. But even as this cost mounts, there is no sign of any compensation from the civic authorities.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah’s first reaction was that the girl should have fallen into a manhole that belonged to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). 

Yet, when contacted, the BWSSB stated that the pavement was not its but the Palike’s. The slabs on the pavement, said a board spokesman, were apparently removed by the Bangalore Electricity Company (BESCOM) personnel.  BESCOM officials were unavailable for comment.

Siddaiah was, however, kind enough to announce that the Palike would pay compensation to the girl and bear her medical expenses if any laxity on the part of the BBMP was found. “We cannot disown our responsibility. If it is our fault then we will have to pay compensation to the girl,” he told Deccan Herald.
Siddaiah said he would verify facts with the Palike engineers of the area concerned before taking a decision on the matter.

BWSSB Public Relations Officer Prahallad Rao denied that it was a BWSSB manhole. “When the matter came to the knowledge of BESCOM officials, they repaired the patch. It was a BBMP pavement,” said Prahallad Rao.

Shwetha Raju, a Christ University student, was walking on the uneven pavement of Castle Street last Tuesday evening when she fell into the 5.5 ft deep pit left open by the civic agencies.

She broke her both legs and was admitted  to Hosmat Hospital. Shwetha was completely unaware of the gap in the pavement since there was no streetlight at the spot.
DH News Service