
Bengaluru Live News Updates (August 13): Three Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials including two engineers have been booked by Bengaluru police for negligence which allegedly led to the fire break out Friday at the quality control office at BBMP headquarters injuring nine people. They have been served notices and called for questioning. According to preliminary investigation, the fire might have been caused because of a chemical reaction going wrong while conducting a bitumen extract test for asphalt.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police has booked officers of the Central Crime Branch police, its sister unit, in connection with alleged manipulation of electronic devices seized from associates of hacker Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki, accused of buying drugs on the darknet using cryptocurrency.
🌧️ Here’s the weather update for today: Generally cloudy sky. The maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 30 and 21 degrees Celsius, respectively.
An atrocity case has been registered against popular Kannada actor Upendra for his alleged casteist remarks, hurting the sentiments of a particular community. The actor-turned-politician had made those remarks during a Facebook and Instagram live to mark the anniversary of his political outfit "Prajaakeeya" on Saturday. Police said they received complaints regarding the actor's comments on Sunday. Upendra had on Saturday itself deleted the live video from social media accounts and apologised.(PTI)
Express photo by Jithendra M.
A joint media conference on Independence Day preparations was held by the Chief Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Tushar Giri Nath, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, and others at the Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru.

Express photo by Jithendra M.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to the union government, urging them to review the present parameters to declare a drought in a state and to consider amending the same, to establish a more responsive framework that acknowledges the realities of each state and offers timely assistance to the farmers in particular.
This comes in the backdrop of Karnataka receving deficient Southwest Monsoon rains. "Despite drought-like conditions in several taluks, we have not been able to meet the existing parameters for declaring drought, which is leaving our farmers without critical support such as input subsidy required in the event of failure to commence sowing operations /mid-season crop failure after sowing due to weak rains apart from other drought management/mitigation measures as set out in the manual," Siddaramaiah said. (PTI)
Four people linked to a Hassan-based company have been arrested for allegedly hacking the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) website earlier this year and hosting a fake website in its place.
The accused have been identified as Dharmesh Jain, Arun, Siddharth and Venkatesh. Another person linked to Varahe Analytics – a political strategy firm working with the BJP – is absconding, officers said.
In February this year, the Congress filed a police complaint after its website was attacked multiple times within a few days in the run-up to the state Assembly polls. Read more
Traffic advisory issued by Bengaluru City Traffic Police ahead of I-Day Celebrations on August 15:
➢ The vehicles coming from Infantry road towards Manipal Center should move on Infantry Road - Safina plaza - Left Turn - Main Guard cross Road - Alies Circle - Dispensary Road - Kamaraja Road & Dickenson Road junction - Right Turn - K.R.Road & Cubbon Road Junction., -Left Turn- Cubbon Road onwards to Manipal Center Junction.
➢ The vehicle coming from Manipal Junction towards BRV Junction on cubbon road is prohibited near Manipal Centre. These Vehicles will take Right Turn near Webbs Junction and move on M.G.Road – Mayohall Junction – Arts & Crafts junction – Anil Kumble Circle - Right Turn - BRV Junction and proceed towards Central Street.
➢ The vehicle coming from Anil Kumble Circle towards Cubbon Road will go straight on Central Street Junction - Right Turn - Infantry Road - Safina Plaza - Left Turn - Main Guard Cross Road - Alies Circle - Dispensary Road - Kamaraja Road and Dickenson road junction - Right Turn - K.R.Road junction - Left Turn - and Cubbon Road onwards to Manipal Center junction.
NO PARKING ZONES:
• Central Street from Anil Kumble Circle to Shivajinagar Bus Stand.
• Cubbon Road from C.T.O. Circle to K.R.Road and Cubbon Road Junction.
• M.G.Road from Anil Kumble Circle to Queens Circle (Both Sides).
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao Saturday visited the Victoria Hospital where nine Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) employees are undergoing treatment for burn injuries. The employees got injured after a fire broke out at the BBMP headquarters Friday evening.
Speaking with the reporters, Rao said, “I have met the injured. Doctors are taking care of them. I have assured the family members that nobody’s life is in danger… They are recovering.”
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah will receive the salute at the Independence Day Ceremonial Parade to be held at Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground, Cubbon Road on August 15, an official release said.
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The BBMP has ordered the enquiry committee to submit a technical enquiry report on or before August 31. It has also ordered the committee to suggest suitable technical and infrastructural measures to be implemented to avoid such incidents in the future.
How a bitumen extraction test going wrong might have led to the fire at BBMP office. Read here