Mysuru: The situation was not as grim as it was a couple of weeks ago for the residents of Srirampura, which was the epicentre of floods, when people had to be rescued by boats for the first time in the history of the Heritage City.

However, the experience of those traumatic moments has cast such a long shadow that the very sight of dark clouds sends fears down the spine of the residents here.

Unlike the heavy showers in September last week (Sept. 26), yesterday the rains were not so heavy. But rain water did enter a few homes last night in Srirampura, causing panic among the residents. This time, the rain water entered about five or six homes on the west side of Srirampura. Last time when it rained heavily, rain water had entered 134 houses on the east side. A drain divides two sides.

As soon as the rain water entered a few homes, the residents came out in panic at around 12 midnight. They stayed awake throughout the night afraid to go back as they feared water gushing into their homes again.

Protest: Fed up with the callous attitude of the authorities, nearly 200 residents staged a rasta-roko on Manandavadi Road this morning.

The main cause for the flooding is the overflowing of a drain near Manandavadi – H.D. Kote Road, which has a 90 degree turn. Unless this drain is straightened, Srirampura will continue to be flooded. There have been several complaints from the residents in the past. But the authorities concerned have turned a blind eye, allege the residents.

The residents, led by Corporator Kempanna, gathered near Manandavadi Road and staged a rasta-roko for nearly an hour resulting in traffic jam.  

They charged that the Deputy Commissioner, MCC Commissioner and the authorities of MUDA have been promising to set right the problem but nothing has been done so far.

“If they wanted, they could have taken up the work when it had stopped raining for a week. Instead they keep on giving excuses,” they told Star of Mysore.

The women residents were vociferous in their complaint. Shobha, a resident, said that if rain water enters the house, how can we live in the house especially since we have small children? Echoing similar views, Radha, another resident, said that they were scared to live in the area. “We did not sleep the whole of last night fearing rain water flooding our house,” she said. MCC Executive Engineer Nagarajamurthy, Zonal Commissioner Javaregowda, Development Officer Raghupathy, MUDA Assistant Executive Engineer Bhaskar, AE Mahesh and others visited the spot.

According to Met Department, fairly widespread rainfall is forecast for next five days as South West monsoon withdraws from the country after normal monsoon, more rains are expected.