It’s not just southeast Bengaluru, the city’s central business district could face severe flooding in case of heavy rain.
For instance, the busy Anil Kumble junction could face the same situation as Silk Board junction with just 10 mm rainfall, a latest study by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has revealed.
Among the 174 flood-prone areas identified in the city, more than a quarter are in the central parts of Bengaluru, including M.G. Road, Vittal Mallya Road, Residency Road, Vasanthnagar, and Jayamahal, says the study ‘Early warning preparedness measures in managing urban floods in Bengaluru city’ done jointly with Indian Institute of Science. The study took into account land-use pattern, the drainage capacity, waterbodies, depression, and the surface run-off.
G.S. Srinivasa Reddy, director, KSNDMC, told The Hindu that these flood-prone areas are paved and there is inadequate drainage system. “Rapid urbanisation and the presence of several low-lying areas make these areas vulnerable in case of a heavy rain,” he said.
“For instance, if there is 20 mm rainfall forecast in a particular ward, we look at the volume of the drainage system and the software indicates if there will be flooding. Analysing this, we can assume the quantum of water going into the drainage and percolating into the ground.” Of the 174 flood-prone areas, 35 are traffic junctions, and traffic police have identified these junctions to have witnessed repeated traffic jams.
The study also revealed that the least flood-prone areas are in the northern parts of the city, which includes Yelahanka and Dasarahalli zones.
