Explosion in our Neighborhood

Bangalore moans and groans. It's March and two things have the city firmly in their grip: drought and insecurity. In this article we describe the insecurity caused by a bomb  going off.

The current feeling of uncertainty has prevailed since March 1. From then on, it was clear that the explosion in a fast food restaurant in eastern Bangalore was not an accident, but an attack.

The detonation of a homemade bomb injured 10 customers and staff at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefield. The investigation by the local police was quickly handed over to the NIA (National Investigation Agency) - the Indian FBI, so to speak. A main suspect was also quickly declared wanted, but he is still on the run.

This afternoon (as of March 13), an accomplice of the main suspect was arrested. However, the situation is still unclear and the media reports are not entirely conclusive.

Stephanie and I are also following the topic closely. For one thing, we too have eaten at the Rameshwaram Cafe in the past and life in the same city district, less than 10 minutes by car from the restaurant.

Secondly, shortly after the attack, various politicians received an email threatening further explosions. If no ransom was paid, further attacks would follow at the weekend. In the meantime, the next week has begun and fortunately nothing has happened.

The physical proximity makes dangers that we usually only know from the news somehow personal; the fugitive perpetrator keeps the tension latently present.

Of course, it remains abstract to a certain extent. And of course, the probability of being run over by a car in Bangalore is many times higher than falling victim to a bomb explosion. But nevertheless, a certain uncertainty remains.

Rameshwaram Cafe has now reopened, and the restaurant is once again well frequented amid great media interest and police protection. Life goes on for Bangalore's almost 14 million inhabitants - if it has ever paused at all.

The second problem the city and its people are facing at the moment is much more long-lasting and drastic: the extreme heat and water shortage are enormous this year.

The next article will follow soon. Then we will explain how people in Bengaluru are suffering from the worst drought in 40 years and why the situation will not improve any time soon.