Sir,

I am writing to draw urgent attention to a serious public safety hazard in our residential area of Dattagalli, Mysuru.

About a month ago, a Government contractor dug a deep excavation pit directly in front of the main gate of our house, reportedly for laying underground power cables.

Despite objections raised at the time, the work was carried out and the site was left unsecured. Since then, no one has returned either to complete the work or to restore safe access.

The pit remains open and dangerously exposed. There are no proper barricades, reflective tapes, warning lights or safety signage. After sunset, it is almost impossible to notice the pit until one is alarmingly close to it. As a result, entering and exiting our home has become extremely difficult and risky.

What is even more worrying is that several similar pits along our street have also been left unattended for weeks.

This situation poses a serious threat to elderly residents, children playing in the neighbourhood, pedestrians, cyclists,                 pets, specially-abled individuals and motorists trying to enter or exit their homes.

With the rains expected soon, these pits could fill with water, making them completely concealed and far more dangerous.

We have already seen tragic incidents across the country caused by such negligence. Children and young people have fallen into open drains in Bengaluru, pedestrians have lost their lives after falling into unbarricaded pits in Mumbai and a tech professional lost his life after falling into an unsecured construction pit in Noida.

These incidents are painful reminders of what can happen when basic safety measures are ignored.

While public infrastructure development is necessary and appreciated, it must be carried out responsibly and completed within a reasonable timeframe. Leaving deep excavations open in residential areas for over a month reflects serious administrative oversight and contractor negligence.

I urge the authorities to intervene immediately by securing all open pits with proper barricading and visible warning systems, completing the pending underground cable work without further delay.

– Naveen Gowd, Dattagalli, 16.2.2026

You can also mail us your views, opinions, and stories to [email protected]