B'luru rain toll rises, more missing, politicians bicker

Bengaluru: Torrential rains on Saturday continued to lash Bengaluru, Karnataka, where the body of a temple priest, who was missing since Friday, was fished out while a search was on for a mother-daughter duo who were swept away, officials said. Forty-eight mm rainfall has been recorded in the city since 8.30 am on Friday, the weather office said.

Nine people have died in Bengaluru in the past 15 days due the heavy rainfall and in pothole-related accidents. The Opposition BJO has criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of failing in his duty. Siddaramaiah, however, flayed the Opposition for "politicising" the deaths and described as "unfortunate" the loss of lives.

The search for the 57-year-old woman and her 22-year-old daughter, who were swept away in a storm water drain at Laggere after water from it flooded their house, was underway, they said. Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister K J George who toured around the rain-affected areas faced the ire of the residents, who said there was no one around to save them when water entered their houses.

When reporters pointed out the substandard civic works leading to the deaths, the chief minister lost his cool.