Karnataka’s 2024 was a yr outlined by surprising twists, with main incidents spanning from bomb blasts and floods to political drama and legal instances.
A staff of NSG, Bomb Disposal Squad, and native police examine the explosion web site on the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru. (ANI)
Probably the most stunning occasions of the yr occurred on March 1, when a bomb blast rocked Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield. Initially suspected to be a gasoline leak, the explosion turned out to be the work of an improvised explosive system (IED), injuring not less than eight folks. The Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) took over the case, arresting two suspects by March 4.
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Pure disasters
On the environmental entrance, the state struggled with an acute dry spell, significantly in Bengaluru. This was adopted by a heavy monsoon that induced devastating floods and landslides, particularly within the coastal areas and Western Ghats. With 46 landslides recorded and 12 deaths attributed to them, it was a devastating yr for Karnataka’s pure panorama.
Political highs and lows
Politically, the yr was marked by highs and lows. The BJP secured a major victory within the April Lok Sabha elections, although its seats within the state dropped from 25 to 17. In distinction, Congress noticed a significant win in November with a clear sweep of all three Meeting by-polls, offering a much-needed enhance to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s administration. Nonetheless, it wasn’t all easy crusing for Siddaramaiah, who confronted challenges over the Valmiki and MUDA land scams.
The yr additionally witnessed the dying of former Chief Minister S. M. Krishna on December 10, a determine credited with reworking Bengaluru into a world hub. Tributes poured in, reflecting the deep affect he had on the state’s improvement.
Within the realm of scandals, former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was on the heart of a nationwide controversy involving allegations of sexual abuse, resulting in his arrest in Could. In the meantime, BJP chief BS Yediyurappa was embroiled in a severe authorized case when a lady accused him of sexual assault.
Murders and suicides
Amidst these political upheavals, Karnataka additionally noticed some unsettling legal instances. The grotesque homicide of Mahalakshmi, whose physique was dismembered and saved in a fridge, shocked the state. In a separate case, software program engineer Atul Subhash’s suicide sparked nationwide debates on dowry legal guidelines and males’s rights.
Karnataka’s 2024 yr was certainly a rollercoaster journey, formed by pure disasters, political shifts, and high-profile scandals that made headlines throughout the nation. Because the state strikes into 2025, the challenges of the previous yr stay recent, with each hope and uncertainty for the long run.
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Discussing suicides will be triggering for some. Nonetheless, suicides are preventable. A number of main suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-23389090 from Sumaitri (Delhi-based) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Basis (Chennai-based)
(With company inputs)