Roads transformed into rivers, several homes almost submerged, huge traffic snarls, power outages, and a drinking water crisis threw life out of gear in Bengaluru on Monday following overnight rains. Vehicular movement has been brought to a standstill, with boats and tractors pressed into service in certain parts in India’s IT hub.
Several lakes in the city were overflowing and stormwater drains were flooded, affecting the low-lying areas.
A forecast of more rainfall on Tuesday has caused panic among the people residing in low-lying areas. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert till September 7 for Bengaluru.
Bengaluru Floods: Top 10 Developments
- The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has warned of water supply disruption in several areas of the city for Tuesday, PTI reported. BWSSB has arranged temporary tankers free of cost. These will be supplied to areas where water supply through taps has been suspended.
- The weather office forecast a few spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers, heavy at times, in the city for the next 48 hours.
- Yellow alert has been issued to Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Hassan, Kolar, Ramnagar, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Tumakuru districts.
- Severe water-logging in localities like Rainbow Drive layout, Sunny Brooks Layout, some areas on Sarjapur Road saw boats being used to ferry students and office goers.
- Several employees of IT companies used tractors to commute to their workplaces in the Yemalur area in Bengaluru. “We are awaiting tractors to drop us for Rs 50,” news agency ANI quoted an employee as saying.
- Several kilometre-long traffic jams were seen in the city, especially on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) that houses some of the IT companies. Non-availability of public transport like buses, autos and cabs on time was another concern that people faced.
- A short video uploaded by a citizen showed air passengers wading through ankle-deep water in the airport’s entrance. Ambulances also got stuck in traffic jams at various places.
- Mahdevapura and Bommanahalli zones in the city have been worst affected. “I have asked officials to depute two SDRF teams to these zones in the city that have been worst affected, with boats and other equipment…also engineers are there,” PTI quoted Chief Minister Bommai as saying.
- Rescue teams trying to move out people from submerged areas were a common sight. Some local groups also distributed food kits and water bottles to the needy and tried shifting people with the help of tractors and JCBs.
- The heavy downpour has also partially damaged city’s power infrastructure, causing power interruptions, especially in the areas near the Outer Ring Road. Around 15 electrical poles broke down as trees fell down on them.
(With inputs from agencies)
