Heavy down pour on Thursday afternoon left the city in deluge
Bengaluru: People and Vehicles were stranded across the city has heavy rain coupled with strong cooling winds and drop in mercury levels almost plunged the city into darkness around noon.
The rain which started at 12.30 pm lashed continuously. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of thunder showers and heavy rainfall over the city and most parts of north interior Karnataka for the next two days.
Sunder M Metri, IMD- Bengaluru Director- in- charge told DH that thunder activity and strong winds are common during this season in September and October. It is the withdrawal of south west monsoon (SWM) period and the onset of monsoon. Thus thunder activities are common. The city upto 8.30 am had received 18.6 mm rainfall, while HAL airport had recorded 17.1 mm and Kempegowda International Airport had recorded 47.3 mm.
Although no casualties have been reported until now, many places including Electronic City, BTM Layout, Koramangala, HSR Layout Sector 6 and 7 in Bommanahalli zone, Madiwala, Shantinagar bus stand, Lakshmi Road in Shantinagar, Oxford College near Vajapeyi Nagar, Chickpet, Bilekahalli, and Anugraha Layout were water logged. The rescue team by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was at work to help people out of their homes in HSR Layout Sector 6and 7.
The commuters had a tough time passing Shivananda Circle as the water had completely logged. Even crossing Anand Nagar underpass was a tough task for commuters. Interestingly, Hebbal flyover towards the airport was also water logged.
About 10 trees have been uprooted across the city in Koramangala, BTM Layout, KR Puram, Bilekahalli, Banaswadi, Silk Board, and Garudacharpalya due to rains but no casualty has been reported.
A Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus was stranded near PES College in Electronic City and the people were rescued safely by the rescue team to a safer place.
A compound wall in Rajajinagar 5th block has collapsed on a transformer and some people have reportedly experienced electric shock due to this. But no injuries have been reported.
The vehicles in Hosur Road could not move further as the water was completely logged. Some routes were closed and traffic was diverted by the traffic police. Due to waterlogging in 80 feet road in Koramangala, the traffic was diverted at 12th main road towards Wipro junction. There was slow moving traffic from Lalbagh gate towards Shantinagar junction.
Disaster Management Cell cautions
1. Try to be at home if heavy rains occur.
2. In case you have to walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure you do not step into the deep water.
3. Never walk through flowing water- you may get swept away or stick by a moving object.
4. Should not drive through a flooded area- you may not see fallen objects.
5. Never turn on ceiling fans or fixtures if ceiling is wet.
6.During floods movements Children, Senior citizens, pregnant women, differently abled should be accompanied by a physically fit person.
7. Don’t eat any food that has come into contact with flood water.
8. Books of school & college students should be kept atleast 5 feet above ground level.
9. All important documents should be kept in higher place atleast 5 feet above ground level.
10. Use mobile for sending messages only. With such action you can have continuous communication.
