Heavy rain forecast for the next few days across state, including Bengaluru

BENGALURU: With the pre-monsoon showers active across many parts of the state, the weather department has forecast heavy rain for the next 4-5 days. An orange alert has also been issued for the coastal and south-interior parts of the state including Bengaluru.

The Meteorological Department has has issued an alert for 17 districts in view of strong winds, trough and low pressure area formation. Heavy rain is expected in Kodagu, Chikkamagalur, Shivamogga and coastal areas while moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is forecast in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagar, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Kodagu, Mysuru, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Mandya, Ramanagara, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

A flooded road in KR Pura on Sunday evening.

An orange alert has been sounded for three days for the coastal areas and for five days for the south-interior districts. North Karnataka is expected to experience light rain. Many parts of the state, including Bengaluru, will experience strong winds, thunder and lightning through the week, the Met department said.

On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is in charge of Bengaluru, did a round of the city and inspected the rain damage. Along with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, he also inspected the flooding at Northwood villas in Yelahanka due to overflowing water from the rajakaluve.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath at Northwood in Yelahanka on Monday.

Speaking to mediapersons, Giri Nath said, “Water had entered some houses in Yelahanka and 22 villas in Northwood. The water was removed using pumps. We are building a storm water drain near Puttenahalli lake which caused the flooding. There has been no encroachment in the villas”.

He further said that 5,500 potholes have emerged after the rain over the last 15 days. “We can’t fill potholes when it is raining. There are 66 major potholes and they will be filled with cold mix. After the rain stops, we will take up pothole filling work”.

Over the last two weeks, more than 1,050 tree falls have been recorded of which more than 350 were uprooted. A total of 198 flood-prone areas have been identified where at least 40-50 houses are flooded whenever it rains.