Residents of Bengaluru’s Sarjapur area came together on Sunday for a candlelight march in protest of the death of 12-year-old boy Bhavanth, who had died on Thursday after a speeding water tanker ran over his head, killing him on the spot. The incident took place in the city’s Panathur Main Road.
On Thursday, a water tanker knocked down the scooter on which Bhavanth and his father were travelling in Panathur Main Road. While the father escaped with injuries, the speeding tanker ran over the boy’s head.
Following the accident, many people came forward to complain about similar accidents across the city. Some complained that similar incidents had taken place on the same road. According to these residents, the civic body authorities had been apathetic to their pleas and had done little to ensure the safety of those in these areas.
“The boy who died was hit by a water tanker. We see that a lot of these water tankers are run by minors. The traffic police do not stop them or ask for their driving licence,” one resident of Bhoganahalli told The New Indian Express, adding, “We also want the footpaths to be cleared and any drainages to be closed and not have open caps lying around.”
Over 400 people took place in the protest held on Sunday, near VIBGYOR School, protesting the death of the boy and demanding for better facilities, including streetlights, footpaths and traffic constables to carry out verification of those driving the tankers.
Several citizens residing near the Panathur Belagere road have alleged that a number of accidents have taken place in the locality as many tankers drive on narrow roads, particularly during peak traffic hours. Besides, bad road conditions, including potholes, add to the gravity of the situation. Residents have also claimed that while only one vehicle can safely pass through the road under bridge (RUB), as many as 20 or even 30 can be seen attempting to take the road, and that the drivers are often reckless and rash.
A road widening project has supposedly been sanctioned, however, no progress has been made on this front.a