Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 14: In a shocking case of 'bystander apathy', 13-year-old Priya lay dying when the slide in BBMP children’s park in MVJ Layout in Mahadevapura came crashing on her on Saturday. People came rushing immediately but no one stepped in to help.

Priya’s friends, who had accompanied her to the park, ran begging to the onlookers to help their friend. However, many silently watched the girl bleed and some even took photos and videos.

It was after 20 minutes, Saleem and Megharaj, who were passing by, got to know about the incident and rushed Priya on their two-wheeler to a hospital in Kaggadasapura. She was declared brought dead.

“How can people be so inhuman that they can’t even help a dying child,” laments Priya’s aunt.

Priya’s father is inconsolable and blames BBMP for taking his daughter’s life. There are no warning signs, no security guards. Public are allowed to use the park, even when construction work is going on. The gates are not locked to keep the public away. "What kind of negligence is this?" he questions. "How can BBMP install a 150 kg pillar without fixing it to the ground? If not for BBMP’s negligence, my daughter would have been alive," he says.

Priya was a class eight student of MTB Jnana Jyothi Vidyanikethan in Mahadevapura. She was very bright in studies and had secured second rank. She used to get up very early in the morning as she was determined to score the first rank in the next exam. She was fondly called as “Ammu,” recalls Priya’s relative.

KR Puram MLA Byrathi Basavaraj visited the grieving family and has declared a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from his end.

Mayor G Padmavathi has promised strict action if the contractor is found to be at fault. She also said that compensation for the family will be discussed.