Overnight downpour causes tree fall injuries, waterlogging, traffic chaos

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Monday blues took on a whole new meaning as Bengaluru started its work week with tree fallrelated injuries, waterlogging and traffic snarls early in the morning.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) disclosed that the city received 74 millimetre (mm) of rainfall overnight. The weather department has warned of heavy rainfall for the next five days in Bengaluru.

In Jaibharath Nagar near Banaswadi in Eastern Bengaluru, a tree weakened by gusty winds, fell on a school bus at 8:20 am. As many as six persons, including four children aged seven, 10, 12 and 13 and two adults aged 37 and 45 were injured and were taken to Trilife Hospital, which is in proximity to the place where the accident took place.

“The children suffered minor injuries. The 37-year-old male is taken to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) and the 45-year-old female has a fracture of the femoral bone (in the leg) and is being taken up for surgery,” CEO and cofounder of Trilife hospital Shafiq AM said.

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar attended to the injured persons and told mediapersons that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will incur costs in the medical bills.

“I have also instructed BBMP and the police to take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future,” he said. In his visit across rain affected areas, Shivakumar urged officials to prioritise de-silting the Rajakaluves, otherwise known as Storm Water Drains (SWDs).

“A bunch of construction debris is dumped on the footpath blocking the side drains. Immediate action will be taken on this,” Shivakumar said.

“Both BBMP and traffic cops have been urged to attend to newly formed potholes (due to the heavy rain)” , he added.

Congested roads cripple commuters

Heavy rainfall in the north and south-eastern parts of the city early in the day put traffic on standstill and commuters in a limbo. Hosur Road and Bannerghatta road faced severe traffic jams during the peak hours of the morning.

Traffic towards the city at Roopena Agrahara on Hosur Road and Nagarjuna junction in Bannerghatta road faced heavy traffic, from 7 am to 10 am.

“Both the Jayadeva and Madiwala underpasses were waterlogged, in which slow movement of traffic ensued,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Traffic - South East T Mahadeva told News Trail.

Submerged streets galore

The Panathur-Balagere road, which is home to a narrow Rail Under Bridge (RUB) off Bellandur Road railway station was termed a “temporary river” by commuters.

“Due to incomplete work in the Storm Water Drain and an absence of side drains, the water has nowhere to go but the road itself,”, a resident said Swetha said.

However, she was quick to add that traffic cops and BBMP officials were prompt in clearing the waterlogged street.

“A few school buses couldn't navigate through the RUB and had to take a detour. This is all because of a lack of attention here, despite the area paying the highest amount of tax,” she said.