Hit by floods, NRI woman seeks US consulate's help

BENGALURU: Since August 14, HSR Layout has been witnessing waterlogging, leaving nearly 300 households in the lurch. When it rained again on September 27, Meena Gupta, a resident of HSR Layout and also a US citizen, raised alarm and managed to get the disaster response team to pull up its socks.

“There was 5 feet of water in my basement and the street was inundated. At 4.30am, I tried calling the

BBMP

commissioner, the joint commissioner and the MLA, but in vain. Then I contacted the US consulate at 8.30am. They sought all details and ensured they would alert the national and state disaster management teams,“ said Meena who lives with her two kids.

Soon, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) contacted Meena and informed her the state response team would reach her house.By 10.30am, 10-12 people from the fire department and state disaster response teamshowed up with pumps, boats and other equipment.

What NDRF has to say

Pradeep K K, emergency coordinator (disaster management),

Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority

, said they were alerted about the Meena Gupta case on September 27 but he was not sure about the US consulate's role in that. “For us, in case of emergencies, only the problem matters not the person. We alerted BBMP and the fire department. There was no need for sending the NDRF team as there nobody was stuck in the waters.There was water in the cellar of an apartment,“ he added.

“Our workers pumped out water from the basement.Sand bags were provided to prevent water from entering houses,“ said Veerabhadra Swamy , BBMP joint commissioner (Bommanahalli zone).

Post the August downpour, Meena formed the HSR Layout Citizens Action Task Force (CAT Force) involving 150 families. Meena said furniture and equipment worth Rs 5 lakh at her home office were damaged. “ All political leaders speak of India's potential and call NRIs home to participate in the change for the better, but I'm disappointed. We come here to give back but we don't get any assistance from our country . Now, I feel I should go back. Despite paying taxes, nobody from the local administration was able to help,“ she said.