Monsoon begins: Bengaluru, it’s time to pull out those brollies and woollies

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The monsoon arrives early as rain lashes the city for the second consecutive day. 
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Geeta Agnihotri said that the monsoon has hit Bengaluru and south Karnataka slightly earlier than expected, adding that north interior Karnataka still awaited the rainy season.
“Monsoon has begun today (Tuesday). In Kerala, it was on May 29,” she said. “It has not yet arrived in north interior Karnataka. It has arrived in south interior Karnataka and gradually it will progress to north interior Karnataka. This is considered slightly early,” she added.
Agnihotri said that three criteria established the onset of the monsoon — rain, wind field and outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR).
“If after 10th May, 60% of the available 14 stations enlisted: Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore report rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days, the onset over Kerala be declared on the second day, provided the following criteria are also in concurrence,” an IMD official statement said.
Trees fall in heavy rain
Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) recorded two official complaints of trees falling as parts of the city received torrential downpours. Also, some areas suffered waterlogging.
Areas within the west Bengaluru sector such as Binnypet, Magadi Road, Rajaji Nagar, Majestic and Malleshwaram witnessed heavy rainfall, with the Binnypet railway underpass being flooded.
Parts of south Bengaluru also saw heavy rainfall. “There were two complaints about fallen trees. One was from Adugodi, near the police quarters. Another tree fell near St Marks Road,” a BBMP official said.