Bengaluru(PTI): Bengaluru's civic body conducted its anti-encroachment drive for the second day on on Tuesday, razing illegal structures that were built on the stormwater drains in several areas of the Mahadevapura zone which were allegedly causing flooding.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) carried out the exercise in Shantiniketana Layout in Mahadevapura zone.

The massive flooding in parts of Bengaluru, particularly the information technology corridor and arterial roads, was blamed on such encroachment. Portions of some bungalows in the posh locality were partially damaged in the drive.

A BBMP official, who is part of the drive, said the government has given a go-ahead and there is no question of sparing anyone, however powerful they may be.

Some residents in the layout alleged only poor people are targeted whereas the stormwater drains encroached by the "high and mighty" in the posh layouts and major IT parks have been spared.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka told reporters his department is giving a list of encroachments to the BBMP.

"I have given instructions to the deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and tahsildars to stand with the BBMP and provide them documents, without looking at big people, small people and so on, and unsparingly demolish (illegal) structures," Ashoka said.

BBMP began the demolition drive on Monday, within days of the havoc caused by rain-triggered floods in parts of the city with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai asserting that the anti-encroachment offensive would be done on a big scale.

According to official sources, the BBMP identified at least 10 places in Mahadevapura zone, which were choking the flow of rainwater, including a building, playground and garden of a prominent private school which encroached upon a stormwater drain.

The Chief Minister said on Monday: "I have given a clear direction to the officials to remove the encroachment whoever has built structures on the stormwater drains and interrupted the flow of rainwater." 

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Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: In an incident reported from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, a young man died after being bitten by a snake just an hour after he killed a cobra while working in the fields. The case has sparked intrigue and widespread discussion in Kyaara village, with locals believing it to be a case of "snake revenge."

The deceased, Govind Kashyap (32), was working as a laborer on Wednesday, gathering straw on the farm of a local resident, Atul Singh. While working, he encountered a cobra that had coiled up and started hissing. Reacting to this, Govind struck and killed the snake with his stick, crushing its hood before returning home for meal.

When Govind resumed work about an hour later, he was bitten by another snake at the same spot in the field. Witnesses reported seeing Govind trying to run toward his house, but he collapsed and died after only a few steps.

Farm owner Atul Singh found Govind in distress and notified his family, who immediately rushed him to the hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival, stating that he had been bitten by a highly venomous snake, which caused the poison to rapidly spread through his body.

Villagers, shaken by the incident, shared that the second snake had reportedly lingered near the dead cobra for some time before the attack, fueling superstitious beliefs that the snake had sought revenge. Social media platforms have amplified the story, and it has quickly gone viral, with people sharing varied interpretations.