Torrential rain hits Bangalore, disrupts traffic

A massive downpour hit the city and flooded its roads and sidewalks, halting transportation and soaking many Bangaloreans to the bone on Saturday evening. The residents had to deal with paralysed traffic and other inconveniences as the rain flooded many areas in the city. The downpour also led to sewage overflowing from open drains.

The incessant rains uprooted several trees in Ejipura, parts of Mysore Road, Goripalya and Cox Town. Just a few hours of rain caused severe water-logging in Sriramapuram, Okalipuram and parts of Cox Town, Bannerghatta Road, Central Silk Board junction, Indiranagar 100 Feet Road, Dairy Circle, and Hebbal flyover.

Traffic officials in Frazer Town had a tough time controlling vehicular movements as the rain brought everything to a standstill for over two hours. Water-logging at the end of Cox Town flyover left motorists stranded as their vehicles were submerged in rainwater. The downpour  also led to the city’s infamous powercuts, leaving its residents in the dark. The heavy shower also displaced the covers of many manholes, letting out sewage.

The BBMP control rooms received complaints of flooding in houses in low-lying areas, such as GM Palya, Marathahalli, Mahadevpura, Byrasandra, Indiranagar, Nagarbhavi, and OMBR Layout.

At the central control room, complaints from Old Madras Road and SK Garden in Pulakeshinagar have been registered.

The control room in Mahadevpura recorded as many as 15 complaints, most of them pertaining to houses being flooded.

However, there was one major complaint about the Doddanekundi Road being flooded under the railway bridge. “Stagnant water  had completely submerged a part of the road under the bridge. Traffic movement had come to a standstill. We attended to the complaint and diverted the water away from the road,” said a BBMP staff operating from a control room.