As usual, civic agencies play blame game

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Citizens and activists in the city does not seem to be satisfied with the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) officials' blaming a "mischievous rat" for the tragic deaths of a 23-year-old woman and her nine-month-old baby.

The Managing Director of BESCOM, Mahantesh Baragi, claimed that rodents were the culprits behind the unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of the mother and child.

Baragi stated that a rodent had intruded into the transformer near Hope Farm Road, causing the wire to snap and fall apart. On Monday, of ficials blamed the power utility for the incident before seemingly accepting lapses.

However, on Tuesday, the BESCOM started pointing fingers at BBMP. BESCOM General Manager (Quality, Standards and Safety) ST Shantamallappa said that the power utility has shifted all overhead power lines to underground near Hope Farm except for a 150 metre stretch where the incident had occurred.

He claimed that the BBMP had proposed to build an underpass at that place and the BESCOM officials had kept the work on the 150-metre stretch pending for the last six months as they did not know the direction in which the Palike will take up work.