Mr Siddaramaiah had earlier this week asked for over 15,000 potholes to be fixed within 15 days, telegraphing the urgency to tackle a deadly problem that has provoked public anger and opposition attacks.
Today, however, when reporters confronted him about deaths because of potholes, he cut in: "...not due to potholes but because of accidents."
A woman died on Tuesday when she was flung from a scooter and crushed by a lorry near Devanahalli, around 40 km from the Karnataka capital. G Veena, 21, was riding pillion behind her older sister, who swerved to avoid a pothole on their way home. As the two-wheeler slowed, a truck hit them from behind and G Veena was killed instantly.
Bengaluru woman G Veena, 21, was crushed by truck while avoiding a pothole
On Sunday, 47-year-old Radha Ajanappa was thrown off a scooter when her nephew, who was driving, tried to avoid a pothole on the Mysuru road. The front wheels of a truck ran her over immediately.
Earlier, a couple on a two-wheeler was killed when a Tamil Nadu road transport bus hit them.
Mr Joseph was trying to negotiate a pothole on a flyover when the bus hit their scooter.
Ahead of polls in Karnataka next year, the ruling Congress has been attacked by the opposition. The BJP alleges a scam behind substandard work on roads.
Former Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa said: "So far, they have spent about Rs 4,000 crore and they have taken about 100, 000 crore loans. I do not know where the money has gone. The pathetic state of Bengaluru roads is a reflection of the performance of Siddaramaiah and his government."
