The rains lashing in the past ten days…it does seem nice. The temperatures have fallen. The buildings seem to be cleaner. The dust seems to have settled. The trees seem to be swaying with joy. The children seem to be happy jumping and playing in the rains. Yeah, housewives do crib that the clothes do not dry, etc.

But come to think of it. Rains are a necessity. We in cities feel it is inconvenient, we cannot move on the roads, etc. But it is great for the farmers (just the right amount). And, Bangalore has been having it all wrong! I mean Mother Nature has been playing a funny game with us this year. First we were almost in a near-draught situation. Just when we thought of approaching the Center for relief funds, the rains started pouring in….And with such magnitudes.

Last ten days it has been pouring almost non-stop at Bangalore. Initially it was a relief. The soaring temperatures started falling. But, this did become a nightmare – especially for people living in the low-lying areas, and the two-wheeler riders.  Last weekend driving from BTM layout towards Electronic City was a nightmare. My mom kept screaming away in panic, that the car would stop. She kept feeling that water would come gushing in, and we would be stranded late in the night. I really had to control her on one side, and skillfully maneuver through the temporary lake created on the ring road, at one of the most important junctions of Bangalore.

The two-wheeler riders were helpless. Many people looking at the plight moved into the opposite lane clogging traffic further. The monstrous city transport and trucks were the only ones totally unaffected, spray painting the mere mortals with dirty muddy waters, plastic pieces, polythene strips and what not. By the time I was able to return home, my car bumpers had dirty polythene strips, hay and other garbage stuck onto it.

Bangalore normally does get rain at this part of the year. We were still made to bear the clogged gutters on the roads, due to the negligence of the authorities. They have not done their homework, and we suffer. The only thing they are prompt at is collecting the taxes, announcing fines, and earning their additional pocket monies.

We can only wish that they were prompt enough in doing their homework well, to avoid inconveniences to many. The only other hope we have is, let them atleast be more careful in the future. “Almighty Saars! I hope you  have an ear for our woes”.

Coming to another sleeping incident…On my way back from lunch, I find a Hoysala Jeep with its doors opened, parked along the side of an open ground at Basavanagudi. Curiosity got the better of me, and I thought of checking out the reason for the hopeless parking angle, and drove closer. To my utter shock, I find a uniformed cop snoring away to glory. Well Done!! I unfortunately was not carrying along my camera, else would have produced a picture of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ along with this article.

No doubt, crimes increase, problems increase, inconveniences increase. The caretaking authorities are always sleeping over the issues rather than tackling them. Is there any solution?

Please send in your views at the Banging it Out Board on the Communiqué.