The civic body has taken the lid off the closed drains in HSR Layout and I fell into one of them

By SANTOSH SRINIVAS

It was the night of February 20, 2018. When I was returning home, I remembered that I had to buy some groceries on the way back. Just then, I happened to see the new My Fresh Basket store on 19th Main. As it was well past 10pm and the store was about to close, I parked my car and casually walked towards the store. What happened next could blow your mind. All I remember was falling into the darkness for a brief moment.

When I did manage to get up, I realised I had fallen into an open drain which did not exist earlier. Quickly, the store personnel gathered around and were frantically trying to pull me out. I realised that my right ribs were hurting and there was an acute pain on my right foot, which I initially suspected to be just an ankle sprain.

Once I reached home, I realised there was a swelling in my ankle and I decided to get it checked the first thing next morning. After an x-ray and CT scan, it was determined to be a communion fracture which required surgery to fix it. The bone was fragmented and there was a ligament tear. I continue to be under treatment and cannot walk unassisted and I am right now under medical leave.

I am sure BBMP is going about their way to cleanse the drains of debris, but there should be a method to this madness. They should take enough precautionary measures to ensure there are physical barricades or some sort of visible indicators that there’s an open drain and people need to watch out.

If such a method was adopted, this accident would not have happened. Not only was the physical injury excruciating, but also a mental strain on me and my family. I hope BBMP learns its lessons and barricades all the open drains to prevent future mishaps like mine.

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