BENGALURU: Continuous rain for the second straight day poured misery on Bengaluru with normal life being affected. Several trains were also cancelled on Wednesday while IT/BT firms allowed their empoloyees to work from home (WFH) in view of the downpour and to avoid traffic mess.
The weather department has issued an orange alert from Bengaluru on Wednesday and a yellow alert for Thursday and predicted rain for two more days. A depression in the Bay of Bengal has caused widespread rain in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and the prevailing weather is expected to continue for two more days.
A yellow alert has been sounded for Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Ramanagara, Udupi and Dakshinna Kannada district for Wednesday while an orange alert has been sounded for Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu and Tumakuru districts.
On Thursday, an orange alert has been issued for Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Kolar, Mandya, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada while a yellow alert is sounded for Ballari, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Mysuru and Vijayanagara.
“Panambur in Dakshina Kannada district received 6 cm of rain while Chikkodi in Belagavi district received 5 cm and and Begur in Chamarajanagar district received 4 cm of rain on Tuesday. The low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify and will make landfall in the coast of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Due to this, widespread rainfall can be expected in coastal and south-interior Karnataka between October 15-19 while some parts of north-interior Karnataka can expect rain. Bengaluru can expect moderate to heavy rainfall till October 19”, according to C S Patil, director and scientist, Indian Meteorological Department, Bengaluru.
As a precautionary measure the Bengaluru Urban district deputy commissioner has announced a holiday for primary and high school students on Wednesday. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar has also announced that the BBMP will give Rs 10,000 as immediate relief to families if rainwater enters their houses. He has also directed the Palike warroom to function 24×7 and to make preparations to tackle the eventualities.
Meanwhile, the Chennai-Bengaluru train (Nos. 12657, 12607, 12608), Chennai-Mysuru train (No. 12609), Mysuru-Chennai tran (No. 12610), Chennai-Bengaluru (No. 12027), Bengaluru-Chennai (12028), Mysuru-Bengaluru (No. 20623), Bengaluru-Mysuru (No. 20624) and Mysuru- Chennai Central (No. 16022) were cancelled on Wednesday.