Heavy overnight rains brought Bengaluru to a standstill on Monday morning, as several areas of the city woke up submerged under water. In what has been the heaviest rainfall of the year so far, the city recorded around 104 mm of rain in just 24 hours, leading to severe waterlogging, traffic snarls, and even a tragic fatality.
Areas like Panathur Railway Under Bridge, Silk Board Junction, Bommanahalli, and HRBR Layout were among the worst affected, with visuals on social media showing submerged roads and stranded vehicles. The inundation was so severe in some areas that police officers had to use JCB backhoe loaders to navigate the knee-deep waters and assist people caught in the chaos.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heavy rain alert for Bengaluru, warning of further downpours in the coming days and urging residents to exercise caution.
Tragedy struck in Mahadevapura, East Bengaluru, where a 35-year-old woman lost her life after a compound wall collapsed due to the rain-induced flooding. Authorities believe the relentless downpour over the weekend weakened the structure, leading to the fatal incident.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar acknowledged the recurring issue of urban flooding in Bengaluru and emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a long-term solution. “This is not a new problem, but we are working on permanent fixes to ensure this does not continue,” he stated.
The opposition, however, criticized the government’s handling of the situation. BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan slammed the ruling Congress, remarking, “Crores have been spent, yet there are no visible results on the ground.”
The extreme weather, which lasted for nearly six hours from Sunday evening into Monday morning, brought life in the IT capital to a grinding halt, with several tech corridors and residential areas facing severe disruptions.
As more rain is forecast in the coming days, the city braces for continued challenges, while residents and authorities remain on high alert.
