Bengaluru mom’s death sparks fury, civic body faces heat over poor roads

BENGALURU: Residents expressed outrage and accused the Chandapura municipal council of negligence following the death of Medha Akarsh, a central government employee. The candlelight march in Ananth Nagar, close to Electronics City Phase II, saw citizens demanding accountability from civic authorities. John Athaide, member of the Anekal Taluk Responsible Citizen Forum, claimed that the local MLA has been neglectful towards residents, stating, "The roads in Ananth Nagar area have gone from poor to worse over the last four years."

Medha, who worked for the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), fell from a two-wheeler near her home, highlighting that the stretch has never been properly fixed. Residents stated that while roads were repaired five years ago, they were dug up multiple times afterward. Meenakshi V, a resident, emphasized that the accident was preventable and called for immediate action, noting that school buses frequently travel this route, causing concerns among parents.

Locals blamed the municipal council for substandard repair work, with Aji Mathai noting that a recent resurfacing was of poor quality, with potholes reappearing within months and waterlogging exacerbated by damaged road surfaces. Following the protest, residents reported that the municipal council promised to address their grievances and agreed to an urgent meeting with all department officials, including road contractors, the next day at Ananth Nagar temple hall.