1 killed as rain sinks Bengaluru, MLA visits area on earth mover

According to the city’s civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) there have been at least 10 incidents of flooding in the Mahadevapura zone. The civic body has deployed six tractors, two rescue boats and staff. In some areas, dinghies with essential supplies were deployed.

The Mahadevapura Zone recorded 93 mm of rainfall from Sunday night to Monday morning. According to Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Cell, Kengeri recorded the highest rainfall at 132 mm, followed by Vaderahalli in North Bengaluru with 131.5 mm. Multiple areas across the city received over 100 mm of rain. The city’s average rainfall over the past 24 hours stood at 105.5 mm recorded at 8.30 am Monday, as per weather officials.

The last time it rained this heavy during this month was on May 18, 2022. Incidentally, the all-time record for May stands at 153.9 mm, which was set on May 6, 1909.

CM Siddaramaiah said he had instructed officials to take up remodelling and de-silting of clogged stormwater drains. “Today, we have received unexpected rainfall… many areas in Bengaluru were affected,” Siddaramaiah said. “I will go for city rounds the day after tomorrow. If I go today, it will cause traffic issues, and after sunset, I won’t be able to assess the situation properly or speak to affected residents,” he said.

The torrential downpour flooded the Central Crime Branch (CCB) office at Chamarajpet. A police officer said, “A lot of files and documents have been destroyed. Many of the computers were also damaged as the water levels stood at 3-4 feet inside the building.”

PTI reports that Sri Sai Layout was flooded up to chest level, forcing people, including senior citizens, to wade through it, before the tractor trolleys came to their rescue. The local MLA, Byrathi Basavaraj climbed on top of an earth mover and inspected the layout developed by Bangalore Development Authority.

Shashidhar P G, who had to squeeze out of a BMTC bus window, said, “the driver said the bus couldn’t move further, but the police insisted we continue. After reaching this spot, the bus stopped as water entered the engine.”

Mounting an offensive, the BJP targeted Deputy CM and Bengaluru in-charge D K Shivakumar, alleging that the crores of rupees spent over the last two years on the city’s infrastructure have yielded no results.

Shivakumar said The issues Bengaluru was facing was not new as successive governments ignored the problems of the city. “To my fellow Bengalureans – I am one among you… I share your frustration, and I assure you of my commitment to resolving them,” he said on X. with PTI inputs