Bengaluru Drowns: 130mm Rainfall in 12 Hours Brings City to a Standstill

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): Bengaluru is reeling under the impact of heavy rainfall, with 130mm of rain recorded in just 12 hours from Sunday evening to Monday dawn. The city is facing widespread disruptions, with three deaths reported, 500 homes flooded and over 20 lakes on the verge of overflowing.

Deaths and Destruction

The rainfall claimed three lives in Bengaluru, including a security guard's son and a housekeeping staffer. Manmohan Kamath, 63, and Dinesh, 12, died after being electrocuted while pumping out rainwater from a flooded apartment in south Bengaluru. Shashikala D, 32, died after a compound wall collapsed in Whitefield.

Flooding and Disruptions

The heavy rainfall caused extensive flooding in various parts of the city, including Kote Layout in Kengeri and RR Nagar's Vrishabhavathi Valley. Several streets were reduced to waterways and dozens of vehicles were submerged or swept away. The State Disaster Response Force deployed boats to evacuate people from flooded homes and neighborhoods.

Impact on Daily Life

The rainfall severely impacted daily life in Bengaluru, with public transport services badly hit. The BMTC bus depot at Shantinagar was flooded and several bus services were disrupted. The Central Crime Branch office also flooded, damaging official records.

Official Response

BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao described the rainfall as the second-highest in a decade and assured that the authorities are working to address the situation. The BBMP engineer-in-chief attributed the flooding to outdated systems that can't cope with the heavy rainfall.

Forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in Bengaluru for the next five days and the city is bracing for further disruptions. The authorities are working to mitigate the impact of the rainfall and ensure the safety of citizens.

Key Statistics

1. Rainfall: 130mm in 12 hours

2. Deaths: 3

3. Homes flooded: 500

4. Lakes overflowing: 20+

5. Vehicles affected: 137 (44 four-wheelers, 93 two-wheelers)

6. Trees uprooted: 27

7. Branches fallen: 43

The city's infrastructure is struggling to cope with the heavy rainfall and the authorities are working to upgrade the drainage systems and improve urban planning to prevent future flooding.