Bengaluru floods: Heavy rains leave city waterlogged, homes flooded

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BENGALURU: Incessant rain in the past two days brought the IT City to its knees. The steady downpour since Tuesday morning led to floods in many residential layouts in low-lying areas. Chaos prevailed on roads because of traffic jams due to waterlogging across the city even on Wednesday.

Residents of Sai Layout near Horamavu and Kendriya Vihar Apartment in Yelahanka were struggling to clear rainwater that entered their homes. The India Meteorological Department’s Bengaluru observatory reported that the city recorded 6.8 mm of rain from 8.



30 am to 8.30 pm on Wednesday. According to BBMP, rain battered Yelahanka zone, resulting in waterlogging at Central Residency Apartment.

Thirteen motors were pressed into service to pump water. Waterlogging was also reported from Ramanashree California, Fathima and Bhadrappa layouts in the city. Properties in many areas were damaged as 47 trees were uprooted.

Several electric poles were damaged as branches of trees fell on them. Rescue teams from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, BBMP and the State Disaster Response Force worked overnight to clear rainwater from houses and apartments. Kendriya Vihar Apartment was flooded again and BBMP sent tractors to shift the residents from there.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath and a team of officials visited the apartment and other affected areas. The Palike provided water and food to residents of Sai Layout which was flooded. According to a resident, around 70 houses were affected due to Tuesday’s rain.

Six roads in the layout were submerged and people could not move to safer places because of this. Those living on ground floors had to move to terraces of their houses, he said. After visiting Kendriya Vihar Apartment, Tushar Girnath told reporters that he has directed his officials to take steps to prevent rainwater from entering the apartment.

“A drain is being built on the private land next to the canal near the apartment. Water will be diverted to this drain. Water is being pumped out by two vehicles from the Fire and Emergency Services Department.

A help desk has been set up and drinking water and food are being provided to the affected people,” Girinath said. He said the Yelahanka lake has two sluices. One of them is near the Kendriya Vihar Apartment.

The flow of water has to be controlled here now. When the water level increases in the sluice in the south, the flow in the sluice in the north near the apartment decreases. Because of this, water enters the apartment complex.

Palike officials have been instructed to take action immediately in this regard, he added..