Sinkholes, cave-ins at 110 spots near BSK imperil motorists

BENGALURU: After the pre-monsoon showers, residents complained of sinkholes and road cave-ins in 110 spots near Banashankari over the last one week.
These sinkholes appeared on Uttarahalli Main Road, Ramanjaneyanagar, Chikkalasandra, Kakathiyanagar, Naidu Layout and surrounding areas of Banashankari III Stage, south Bengaluru. Incidentally, the civic agency had filled up 250 cave-ins and sinkholes in these localities and many of them have reappeared now, residents said.
According to BBMP officials, seepages from BWSSB pipelines and manholes caused most of the sinkholes and cave-ins on the roads.
"Over the past two-three years, sinkholes have become common after rain in these areas. The roads were asphalted only recently, and in no time, officials were seen filling up huge sinkholes. After the recent heavy rain, roads developed cracks next to the manholes and soon sinkholes appeared. It is quite dangerous to travel along these stretches," said Shashank Agarwal, business entrepreneur residing at SVG Antenna Apartment, Chikkalasandra.
Engineers of BBMP's south zone who were inspecting the roads told TOI, "As of now, some sinkholes have been identified and work to fix them is under way. Many of the cave-ins happened next to BWSSB's manholes. Heavy seepage/soil erosion after the recent rain is one of the reasons."
"A few days before the rain, officials were seen pouring concrete to fill huge potholes and roads damaged by cave-ins. And after the heavy showers, the roads became bad again," said N Babu, a resident of Kakathiyanagar, Uttarahalli Main Road.