Bangalore: 2 kids die as rain continues its dance of death

Two boys were killed in the trail of death and destruction left behind by heavy rain on Friday night. Brothers R Manoj and R Thanoj, children of Nagarathnamma and Ramachandrappa died at AK Colony, Domlur Layout, when the wall of their house collapsed on them, following heavy rain in the early hours of Saturday.

Nagarathnamma suffered injuries in the mishap and has been admitted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. The deaths of the two children come in the wake of three people being killed due to wall collapse, one in Rajarajeshwari Nagar and two in Rajanukunte on the outskirts of the city, over the past two days.

According to BBMP authorities, Ramachandrappa's house  collapsed owing to weakening of the foundation by water seepage from the compound of the ASC Centre South.

Students of KRLS Patel Rama Reddy English Higher School, where Manoj and Thanoj studied in the ninth and eighth standard respectively, gathered at AK Colony to condole the death of their school mates and also to protest apathy of the authorities concerned. Residents of AK Colony staged a protest on Tuesday morning, demanding safety for their houses that were constructed adjacent to  the military compound wall.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy, BBMP mayor BS Satyanarayana, BBMP commissioner M Lakshminarayana, MLA NA Harris and corporator Geetha Srinivasa Reddy visited the spot.

Ramalinga Reddy said, the government would provide Rs2 lakh each for the dead children as compensation for the family and would bear the cost of hospitalisation of Nagarathnamma. The BBMP has agreed to pay Rs1 lakh each as compensation for the deceased family.

"Military authorities have been creating problems not only for the residents of AK Colony, but also at other localities. They are treating the residents as Pakistanis. I have asked the BBMP commissioner to hold talks with the military authorities to find a permanent solution for this issue,'' the minister said.

Some girl students pleaded with the minister to take measures to prevent similar incidents recurring at AK Colony and other places in the city. The minister found it tough to console and convince the students who were in tears.

Speaking with dna, S Yogesh, a ninth standard student, said he had lost his best friend in Manoj.

"Manoj was good in studies as well as sports. He was our volleyball team captain," said Yogesh, who travelled from his home in Dhoopanahalli to AK Colony to join his fellow students in mourning.

GR Krishne Gowda, a seventh standard student, said he could not believe that Thanoj was no more.

"I will miss him. He was cheerful and friendly and good in studies. He was my friend,'' said Gowda.