Video: Bengaluru Residents, Cops Face Off During Protests Over Potholes

In Bengaluru, residents protesting the city's deteriorating road conditions found themselves in a confrontation with police officers on Saturday morning when authorities demanded they end their demonstration.

Footage captured protesters holding signs with messages such as "save Bengaluru roads" and "fix roads" before police intervened, citing the protesters' lack of proper permission. The situation escalated into an argument, with officers threatening arrests if the demonstration didn't disperse.

This incident is just one of many protests taking place throughout the IT hub as citizens highlight the city's failing infrastructure.

Earlier this week, a video went viral showing the severely damaged road and sidewalk outside Google's Bengaluru office. Residents documented large craters on service roads, encroached footpaths, and dangerous walking conditions. The video caption read: "Let's see what it takes to walk outside Google Bengaluru. One word: unsafe. What should be the pride of Bengaluru is getting the least attention from GBA. The further you go, the worse it gets. We urge urgent action to restore safe, walkable footpaths here."

In another alarming incident, a school bus carrying children nearly overturned after sliding into roadside mud on one of Bengaluru's notoriously pothole-riddled streets. Dashboard camera footage from a following vehicle showed the bus attempting to overtake another school bus when it veered slightly off the road, causing a tire to sink into soft ground. Bystanders quickly responded, evacuating all children safely through the emergency exit.

A week later, additional incidents occurred involving school transportation: a bus became trapped when its wheel sank into an under-construction stormwater drain, while a school van became stuck in an open drainage channel.

Responding to mounting criticism, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar defended the situation, stating that potholes are not deliberately created but develop due to "natural causes" and heavy rainfall.

"We are working to resolve the issue. The BJP is playing politics, let them do what they want. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also holding a meeting this evening. Potholes result from natural causes, nobody creates them intentionally. The increasing number of vehicles, heavy traffic, and excessive rainfall in Bengaluru have contributed to pothole formation. We've already repaired more than 7,000 potholes, with over 5,000 still remaining on Bengaluru's roads. We've requested the Police Commissioner to submit a report on the condition of potholes," he stated.