The relentless downpour that began early Tuesday morning has thrown life in central and southern Karnataka, including the state capital Bengaluru, into disarray. Heavy rainfall has resulted in widespread waterlogging and traffic congestion, causing major disruptions to daily life.
Bengaluru’s residents, particularly students and office-goers, faced a challenging morning commute due to severe road congestion caused by the rains. Motorists struggled to navigate through the city’s flooded streets, with Varthur, Hebbal, Kadubeesanahalli, and surrounding areas being particularly affected. Key locations, including the bustling Manyata Tech Park on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and tech hubs like Sarjapur, were also inundated.
Traffic officials reported major delays, stating, “Nagawara flyover near Manyata Tech Park is waterlogged…slow movement of vehicles on both sides.” They also noted significant waterlogging on the Hennur-Bagalur road, Ganganagar, and Ramamurthy Nagar. The heavy rainfall has led to slow-moving traffic throughout the city.
As the rain continued into Tuesday evening, massive traffic snarls emerged on Airport road, further exacerbating the city’s transportation woes. In light of the persistent downpour, the Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Bengaluru for the next two days, signifying a high risk of heavy rainfall.
In response to the heavy rain forecast, officials have announced the closure of all schools in Bengaluru Urban district on Wednesday. A government order stated, “As a precautionary measure in the interest of students, all taluk Anganwadi centres, private/aided primary and high schools of Bengaluru City will be closed on Wednesday.” Government schools in the city are already closed for Dussehra holidays.
The city civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has taken proactive measures to address the situation. They have established 24X7 exclusive control rooms in their eight zones and launched a helpline number (1533) for citizens to report rain-related problems. The BBMP’s disaster management team has successfully cleared waterlogging under the Hebbal flyover, restoring vehicular movement.
During a virtual meeting, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath emphasized the importance of preparedness for any emergencies and instructed officials to prioritize flood-prone areas. According to Traffic Police, gridlocks were reported on major roads, including the ORR, Tumakuru Road, and Airport Road, highlighting the widespread impact of the heavy rainfall on the city’s transportation network.