Slum child Aravinda of Hampinagar was too engrossed in his game to notice the strong current in Vrishabhavathi canal as he jumped in to fetch the ball.
Slum child Aravinda of Hampinagar was too engrossed in his game to notice the strong current in Vrishabhavathi canal as he jumped in to fetch the ball. Aravinda’s playmates stood helplessly as he was swept away by water rushing through the 20-ft deep canal.
Late on Friday night, 15 fire officials were busy searching for his body at the other end of the canal near RV College in Kengeri. It is alleged that the slippery mount of silt dumped by BBMP at the site probably triggered the incident.
On Friday afternoon, Aravinda, 12, was playing with his friends near the dumped silt after heavy rain hit the city flooding the roads and canals.
“He waved for help but his friends could not save him as the current was too strong and the canal was 20-ft deep,” said one of the witnesses.
BBMP had “very conveniently” dumped the silt collected from Gali Anajaneya temple after the shrine was flooded during heavy rains last month. Witnesses said the mount of silt became slippery after Friday’s rain.
“The search will continue tomorrow morning. I have directed all officers to get me a detailed report on the incident and launch an investigation,” said mayor R Sharadhamma.
Aravinda’s father Hanumantrayappa works as a weaver in a silk factory. His four daughters work as domestic helps. His wife Revamma also works to earn a decent living for the family. “Of my children, we sent only Aravinda to school,” said a tearful Revamma.
Aravinda studied up to Class 7 in St Austin English School in Deepanjali Nagar.
His parents have filed a missing complaint with the Byatarayanapura police station on Mysore Road.
Friday’s rain uprooted several trees in Majestic near Sagar Theatre, Adugodi near MICO factory, Malleswaram, Gayathrinagar, KG Road near Upparpet police station, Gunjar Road in Varthur, Rajajinagar 2nd Block and near Rammandira, Gandhinagar, Ejipura and Binnpet. Residents of 10 houses in Chikkalalbag area of Jayanagar spent the evening removing sewage water from their flooded homes.
Siddhaiah said the BBMP is making small pits around trees so that rainwater will seep into the ground instead of flooding the roads. “This helps in saving water and increasing underground water level,” he said.
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