(Eds: Repeating with edits in copy, a new para 2)Bengaluru, Oct 14 (PTI) Torrential rains today continuedto lash Bengaluru where the body of a temple priest, who wasmissing since yesterday, was fished out while a search was onfor a mother-daughter duo who were swept away, officials said.
Forty-eight mm rainfall has been recorded in the citysince 8.30 a.m. yesterday, the weather office said.
Nine people have died in Bengaluru in the past 15 daysdue the heavy rainfall and in pothole-related accidents.
Opposition BJO has criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,accusing him of failing in his duty.
Siddaramaiah, however, flayed the opposition for"politicising" the deaths and described as "unfortunate" theloss of lives.
City civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)along with the National Disaster Rapid Force (NDRF) and theState Disaster Rapid Force (SDRF) intensified the searchoperation and formed three teams.
The priest of a temple near Kurubarahalli Circle wasswept away in a stormwater drain after water gushed inside thetemple yesterday. His body was recovered today, the policesaid.
The search for the 57-year-old woman and her 22-year-olddaughter, who were swept away in a stormwater drain at Laggereafter water from it flooded their house, was underway, theysaid.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru DevelopmentMinister K J George who toured around the rain-affected areasfaced the ire of the residents, who said there was no onearound to save them when water entered their houses.
When reporters pointed out the substandard civic worksleading to the deaths, the chief minister lost his cool.
"It is unfortunate that people have lost their lives... Icondole the deaths that happened due to rains. Compensationwill be given to the families of those who lost their lives,"he said.
"However, you should know that the state this year hasreceived unprecedented rains. We had continuous rains for 47days. But, politics over deaths is condemnable. Our prioritiesshould be to offer relief to the affected people," he added.
Siddaramaiah said the removal of encroachments and de-silting of stormwater drains would be intensified in thecoming days.
BJP state unit president Yeddyurappa, who visited therain-hit areas, blamed Siddaramaiah for the deaths.
"Chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress governmentare responsible for each and every death... Had the governmentcompleted the construction of stormwater drains on time,people would not have faced such a bad situation," he alleged.
"The state government has spent Rs 800 crore (for theremodelling of stormwater drains) and contractors who wereblacklisted were given the contract... At least 75 per cent ofthe money spent was squandered," Yeddyurappa claimed.
The BJP leader also announced a compensation of Rs onelakh to the next to the kin of deceased. PTI GMS RA ROHKIS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.