One night of heavy rain on Monday (Nov. 6) created havoc for residents and shopkeepers as heavy flooding was reported in several areas of the city. Inundation of roads connecting residential and business areas resulted in slow-moving traffic and damage to vehicles.
The BBMP control room received several complaints from citizens after the downpour. While trees had fallen in Indiranagar, Anand Rao Circle, K.P. Agrahara, and Nagarbhavi 2nd Stage (1st Block), inundation of houses was reported from areas like Chickpet, B.V.K Iyengar Road, Ramamurthynagar, and Mahalakshmipura.
One of the houses in Bengaluru in which rainwater entered on Monday. | Photo Credit: The Hindu
A car got stuck in water in TNT Layout near Thanisandra. The flooding of roads inconvenienced many motorists travelling to work on Tuesday morning. The Bengaluru Traffic Police put out advisories regarding slow-moving traffic near the Panathur railway underpass, Vaddarapalya junction on Hennur-Bagalur main road, Veerannapalya and Hebbal.
While the rainwater at many places was drained out by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike workers by Tuesday morning, it created problems the night before.
The slow-moving traffic because of heavy rain on Mysuru Road on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
In Baiyappanahalli, a small residential locality faced flooding due to the blocking of the area’s drains, a problem that has persisted for years now. G. Narayanswamy, a resident, said, “Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board closed these drains (due to metro constructions) three years ago, which has stopped the rainwater from flowing through here. Every time it rains heavily, the area gets flooded.”
Roads from Vijinapura and Ramamurthynagar to Baiyappanahalli were also waterlogged, and drainage overflowed. The roads in Frazer Town and Pulakeshinagar also faced a similar fate.
In Ramamurthynagar, apart from some houses getting inundated, many small businesses suffered damage due to the rain. Anand Kumar, the owner of Lakshmi Shankara Stationeries in the locality, shared his plight. “With rainfall intensifying by 9.30 p.m (on Monday), the road in front of Carmel church was filled with knee-deep water. My scooter stalled when I was trying to get home because of the water. It was not even possible to walk on the road, but I managed to get home on foot. It rained into my shop as well, and my lamination machine got ruined because of it.”
Shopkeepers of the bustling market area of Chickpet and Sulthanpet complain that the improper drainage system is a perennial problem for them beyond just this rain. Sajjan Raj Mehta, a trade activist and owner of a wholesale shop in Chickpet, said, “The most disturbance was outside the metro station where water covered the road entirely, making it inconvenient to come into the street. This is the only form of public transport connecting to the market, and it becomes very difficult when that itself is blocked. The government should take care of this and fix civic infrastructure.”
Armoury submerged
The City Armed Reserve, West Division, was flooded on Monday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
The City Armed Reserve (CAR), West Division, situated at Ullal, was flooded and material and armoury were submerged due to heavy rains on Monday. Police personnel struggled to remove rainwater that gushed inside the station. According to a source, a newly constructed compound collapsed due to heavy rain and water gushed into the station. The CAR personnel worked to clear the water and summoned a JCB to clear the debris. The arms and other materials kept in the storeroom were damaged. Senior police officials visited the spot and supervised the cleaning operation.
Published - November 07, 2023 11:27 am IST
