Niharika Alva

BENGALURU: The violent protests in Bengaluru over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute showcased the depravity of vandals. But, even as the savagery was on display, there were heartening tales of a select few who volunteered to help amidst the chaos.Techie Rituraj Singh had to endure many anxious moments on Monday evening as the wait for his wife Rashmi’s return home extended from the usual 30 minutes to 2 hours after protests hit the city. Rashmi was driving, and news of protesters torching a lorry nearby had made Singh anxious. “She even encountered lathi-wielding men on her way,” he said.When her wife reached home safely, Rituraj posted a message on Facebook: “If anyone stuck around Carmelaram Road , you are welcome at our home till this settles down #winbackbangalore.” Although the post was shared multiple times, Singh did not receive any distress calls. “But we are ready to help anybody. We are grateful that things are slowly returning to normal,” he said.Kanaka Sabhapati did something similar. With a poster that read ‘For emergency and aged people: Free Service’ pasted on his car, the textile trader drove around Bengaluru on Monday, ferrying those who were marooned.“I dropped one patient at a hospital in Whitefield and another at Jayanagar Heart Centre. On my way back, I was able to drop two patients from a hospital to their respective homes,” he said, adding, “I’ve helped around 60 people in the last three bandhs. I drive around, pick up and drop patients. My wife and children are very encouraging in this,” he said.Lohith Nanjunda Shetty and two friends, who live quite close to an area where many trucks were torched, volunteered to help those who needed emergency transport to hospitals.Businessman Hemanth Kumar B M offered food, shelter and transport to those stuck in north Bengaluru. “I received 35-40 calls on Monday. Some were from TN residents worried about relatives here. I got a call from a woman late at night, who told me her husband was stranded in Marathahalli (a suburb) and needed adrop to south Bengaluru.”Two youths — a man and woman — were seen riding on scooters, distributing food to people at bus terminals, making for a picture that went viral on social media.