Heavy rain exposes city's flaws once again

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

It was a wet weekend for most Bengalureans which virtually forced them to stay indoors with heavy rains battering the city Saturday night and Sunday, resulting in waterlogging with drainage water entering homes. Hitherto unaffected areas too bore the brunt with gusty winds uprooting at least 12 trees in localities across the city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded 48.2 mm of rain overnight on Saturday until 8:30 am on Sunday. Thereafter, there was 5.2 mm of rain until 5:30 pm in the evening. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials said that trees had fallen in several parts of the city.

“A tree fell near Shanthala Nagar close to Cubbon Park while another was uprooted near Jayanagar fourth block. Trees also fell in Nagarabhavi and Banashankari,” an official said. Meanwhile there were complaints from several areas about drain water entering houses in some localities. Jayanagar residents complained of a power outage Saturday night, while residents living in and around Magadi Road complained of waterlogging. Bengaluru has been going through dry spells followed by heavy rain of late.

“A tree was uprooted near the Second Main in Basaveshwar Nagar. Another one fell near West of Chord Road. Sixth Block Rajaji Nagar also witnessed a tree falling. Another tree fell close to the SBI Bank on Sampige Road in Malleswaram,” another official said.

BBMP officials disclosed that a tree had been uprooted in MLA layout in RT Nagar, another in Vasanth Nagar near High Ground Police Station, which is adjacent to Cunningham Road, while four more trees fell in Vidyaranyapura.

Drain water enters houses

The civic body added that several residents had called in to complain about flooding due to excessive rain, apart from cases of drain water entering houses in some localities.

“We received three complaints. One was from 14th main, seventh cross in Kurubarahalli where drain water had entered houses. The second one was received from Malleswaram. We’ve been told that there has been waterlogging on the street where the BJP office is located. This is quite close to Sampige Road. The last one was from the Fourth Main in MC Layout (near Vijaynagar) where again drain water had entered houses,” a BBMP official said.

Jayanagar residents complained that electricity had gone out briefly on Saturday night, while residents living in and around Magadi Road complained of waterlogging. The civic body, however, insisted that water had receded and fallen trees had been cleared on Sunday. Last time such heavy rainfall took place in the city was on July 20. IMD had recorded 8 cm of rain overnight. Bengaluru has been going through long dry spells followed by torrential downpour as of late.