Bengaluru receives record May rainfall of 104 mm, highest in past 10 years, many parts inundated

BENGALURU: The city witnessed heavy rainfall on Sunday night, along with several other parts of the state. The city received record rainfall, with 104 mm of rain recorded from Sunday till 5:30 am on Monday, marking the highest rainfall in the past 10 years for the month of May.

Waterlogging was widespread, and homes in low-lying areas were flooded, disrupting daily life. Bengaluru is expected to experience rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning for the next four days.

Chamarajanagar recorded the highest rainfall in the state with 130 mm, followed by Kengeri in Bengaluru with 124 mm, and Narayanapura in Ramanagara with 115 mm. Other areas, including Santhehalli in Kolar and Sindhuvalli in Mysuru, also received significant rainfall.

Heavy rain lashed BBMP’s four zones including Mahadevapura, East, Bommanahalli and Yelahanka Zone, with over 110 localities impacted. Waterlogging was reported in several areas, including Shantinagar, Koramangala and Bommanahalli.

A fallen tree affected traffic in Bellandur. The pre-monsoon showers have already caused significant disruptions, and the monsoon rains are yet to arrive. Rescue operations were under way at Sai Layout in Horamavu, where people were being rescued using boats and other vehicles as residents are stranded in their homes.

The Indira Canteen in the area was also waterlogged and staff were distributing food on the road. In Uttarahlalli Ward 184, the situation is chaotic.

The state has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past four to five days, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more intense rainfall from today onwards.

Rain water entered a BMTC bus near Central Silk Board junction around 3 am. The Electronics City flyover was partially closed at 6 am and a massive traffic jam was seen at Silk Board junction in the early hours on Monday. The Electronics City-Silk Board carriageway of the flyover was closed till the traffic jam at Silk Board junction was cleared.

About 2 feet of water was seen at the Shantinagar bus depot, affecting movement of buses. The ground floor of the Central Crime Branch office at Shantinagar was also flooded with about 3feet of water. Rain water had also entered police vehicles and officials were worried about damage to documents.

Sri Kanteerava Stadium

The Wilson Garden main road was also completely inundated and water had entered the PWD quarters and some shops. A few cars and a KSRTC Rajahamsa bus had also broken down and firemen were involved in clearing the rain water.

In the heart of the city, the Sri Kanteerava Stadium was also inundated with the athletics track under water. Sportspersons could not practice on Monday due to the flooding. At Gate 7, there was at least 5 feet of water and the BWSSB was pumping it out. Taekwando practice mats were seen floating in the water.

At Indiranagar Stage II, at least three roads were completely flooded and residents were unable to step outside.

Roads around Manyata Tech Park were completely flooded, affecting traffic movement. Employees of companies inside the tech park also faced problems as the roads inside were also inundated up to waist level. The security staff tried to prevent media personnel from filming the flooding.

Roads in Manyata Tech Park

Manyata Tech Park

At Nanda Gokula Layout in Nagawara, a family with a two-month-old toddler was headed to a relative’s house after their house got flooded and the road was inundated. In Hennur, rain water entered the Care Shelter Public Charitable Trust which houses about 70 orphans. The children spent the night unable to sleep.

A family with a two-month-old toddler was headed to a relative’s house

Sector 5 in HSR Layout was also completely flooded with about five two-wheelers breaking down back to back. Firefighters were pumping out the water from the HSR Layout main road.

Roads in HSR Layout

Rain water also entered some houses at Geddalahalli on Kothanur main road. In KP Agrahara, water from the rajakaluve had entered about 200 houses, but no BBMP officials had visited the locality in the morning.

The Vishwanath temple at Attur Layout in Yelahanka was completely flooded with the kalyani also overflowing. The service road on the Bengaluru-Pune highway was inundated in front of the Jain temple at Adakamaranahalli, affecting traffic movement.

Vishwanath temple at Attur Layout

The Agara main road in Horamavu was also flooded and a private bus had broken down. The rajakaluve was overflowing at Vaddarapalya, inundating at least 25 roads, forcing people indoors.

The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall in most parts of the state for the next five days, with the situation expected to worsen due to the onset of the monsoon.

Residents of Sai Layout being shifted to safer place in a tractor.

Heavy rainfall is expected in most districts, including coastal areas and north- and south-interior Karnataka. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for several districts, including Bengaluru, and an orange alert for Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Dharwad, and other districts.

According to C S Patil, a scientist at the IMD, the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring continued heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning across the state. Precautionary measures have been taken, and alerts have been issued for several districts.

The orange alert has been issued for districts like Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kodagu and Tumakuru. A yellow alert has been issued for Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru and Shivamogga.