Bengaluru rains: Thank our traffic police for filling the potholes, but where is BBMP when the city needs them?

Bengaluru traffic police fix potholes, help clear water from clogged roads BBMP Commissioner had warned the Palike officials to fill-up potholes in 48 hours Rains are expected for another three days in the City

Bengaluru witnessed over 12 hours of incessant rains that left many parts of the city water-logged. As citizens caught in the rains made their way homes, the ever available city traffic police braved the rains to fix the damaged roads, while the never-available BBMP kept itself away. 

Images of marooned areas, water filled-up roads and junctions and overflowing drains have been flooding the social media. But the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) personnel were nowhere to be seen - except for Mayor's whistle-stop visits at the affected areas. Instead, the Bengaluru traffic police had to take it upon themselves to do their bit for the city battered by the heavy rains.

Frustrated over the traffic pile up due to heavy rains in many areas, the traffic police personnel were seen repairing the road, filling up potholes and even clearing drainage to allow the water to rainwater to flow.

Yeshwanthpur Traffic police personnel filled up all potholes near GG Palya towards MEI railway bridge to allow the smooth traffic. Not just that on 80 feet road, a traffic police personnel cleared blockage from the storm water drain to help recede water faster.

But the BBMP personnel were nowhere to be seen, except at the places where Mayor G Padmvatahi visited on Saturday.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad had recently given 48-hour deadline for the BBMP personnel to fill up the potholes ahead of the rain. But with heavy rains, potholes dot the majority of the roads. Worst, even the storm water drains are overflowing clogging the roads throwing traffic out of gear. But BBMP is taking its own sweet time to respond, for reasons best known to them. BBMP Commissioner Prasad reportedly said that "It is not possible to fill up the potholes when it is raining."

But how did Bengaluru police manage to fill up the potholes and even clear the drains, amidst the rain? Perhaps, the Commissioner should take a leaf out of Bengaluru traffic police personnel's selfless act ensure Bengalureans reached their homes safe in the rains.