Bangalore: Army calls off search for Abhishek’s body
Bangalore, Jun 13: After four days of relentless efforts to deweed the “raja kaluve” at Hennur Bande lake scouring in vain for the body of Abhishek, the six-year-old washed away in a drain in Lingarajpuram 12 days ago, the Army called off its operations on Friday evening.
The Army had taken up the search operations along with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) following the civic body’s request.
A senior BBMP official said that the civic authority would also do likewise. “The entire stretch of the “raja kaluve” was searched. The authorities have even looked for the child’s body in all the drains leading to the “raja kaluve” but to no avail. Higher authorities will now have to decide the future course of action,” the official said.
Stench
Meanwhile, the weeds cleared from the “raja kaluve” lay all around, rotting in the sun. The earthmovers ceaselessly scooped up and dumped more weeds and filth even as rag-pickers sifted through it.
The Madras Engineer Group (MEG) and Centre personnel and BBMP gangmen worked tirelessly, combing the remaining stretch of the “raja kaluve,” looking for the body of Abhishek.
What was striking at the worksite was the contrasting methods employed by the two sets of workers.
While the 60-odd MEG men used specialised equipment, the BBMP labourers waded in the water, removing the weeds with their bare hands as they did not have any protective gear.
“Most of the labourers who reported to work initially were given protective gear, including rubber gloves, boots and neon vests. But a lot of us have not received them. What can we do? We are not in a position to demand,” said Raju (name changed), one of the workmen.
Ranga (name changed), another labourer, complained that the BBMP had not given them even soap to clean themselves. “We are covered in filth. There are animal carcasses which we have to remove with our bare hands. We risk contracting diseases as we are not given any soap to wash our hands before having food, which we are forced to eat right here.”
Raju and Ranga said they began work at 7 a.m. and ended just before dusk. “We are here in the midst of filth for a major part of our day. A few among us fell ill and have not been able to report back to work for a couple of days now.”
Long search
A senior BBMP official, who was supervising the work, said many workers had been combing the storm water drains for around 12 days now. “Today, 95 workers from the ward and some private labourers have reported for duty. We try to provide them as many facilities as possible. We are with them through the day and have food with them onsite.”
About the lack of protective gear, he said: “We had provided them with boots and rubber gloves. But after a few days, many wore out. Some tore after the mud hardened on them and glass pieces pierced through.”