Crick in the neck: Bengalurean blames it on potholes, seeks Rs 50 lakh compensation from BBMP
Dhivya Kiran Jeevan
BENGALURU: Exasperated by enduring neck pain allegedly caused by the city's pothole-riddled roads, 42-year-old
Bengalurean
Dhivya
Kiran
Jeevan has slapped a legal notice on the
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
(
BBMP
), demanding compensation of Rs 50 lakh.
Citing BBMP's 'gross negligence' and 'failure to discharge its public duty,' Kiran claims that the deteriorating road conditions left him with chronic physical pain and emotional trauma.
A self-described 'true blue Bengalurean,' Kiran told The Times of India that he spent his entire life in the city and believes it deserves better. 'I was born and brought up in Bengaluru, which is supposed to be a world-class city.
BBMP can surely give us decent roads. We are not asking for extravagant things. Every corner, every turn—there are potholes. Every time I travel by auto or two-wheeler, I get excruciating neck pain,' he said.
Kiran added that even the slightest jolt while commuting causes severe pain. 'I visited all the top orthopaedic doctors, and they unanimously said the condition is due to the poor state of the roads. I feel for countless others like me who silently suffer without the means or confidence to speak up.
That's why I decided to take legal action—to become the voice for the many.'
The legal notice, dated May 14, 2025, was sent to BBMP by Kiran's advocate K V Laveen. It outlines the extent of Kiran's suffering, stating that he was compelled to consult five orthopaedic specialists due to the escalating pain.
The document also notes four emergency visits to St. Philomena's Hospital, where he underwent multiple medical procedures, including pain-relieving injections.
'He has been on a steady course of medication and painkillers just to get through the day,'
Advocate Laveen
said. 'He suffered sleepless nights, sudden episodes of crying from pain, anxiety, and general emotional distress, all of which deeply impacted his daily functioning and mental health," he added.
The notice holds BBMP responsible for the 'physical agony, emotional trauma, and financial burden' endured by Kiran, asserting that the civic body's failure to maintain motorable roads directly led to his deteriorating health.
Kiran has also demanded an additional Rs 10,000 to cover the cost of the legal notice, with a deadline of 15 days for BBMP to respond. If the civic body fails to meet the demand, Kiran vowed to escalate the matter through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
'It's very disheartening that the city does not prioritise infrastructure,' Kiran said. 'Why should I be suffering? The least the state can do is give us safe, usable roads. If I don't get a response, I'm ready to go to court. This is not just about me—it's about every Bengalurean who has silently accepted bad roads as normal.'
The BBMP is yet to respond to the legal notice.
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