Bengaluru’s ‘world-class’ chaos returns: Rainbow Drive turns into ‘mini Ganga’

A heavy spell of rain on Saturday evening brought Bengaluru to a grinding halt, with waterlogged roads, overflowing drains, and uprooted trees crippling life across several neighbourhoods.

The downpour, which began late afternoon and continued for hours, caused widespread flooding in both residential and commercial zones.

Key arterial roads, including Outer Ring Road, Whitefield Main Road, and Siddapura, were submerged under ankle to knee-deep water, leaving motorists stranded and vehicles stalled.

Traffic moved at a snail’s pace, with long jams reported near Silk Board, Hebbal, and Majestic for over two hours.

The city’s fragile civic infrastructure once again buckled under pressure, as stormwater drains overflowed in low-lying areas, pushing muddy water into homes and shops.

The slow response from civic authorities forced residents to fend for themselves amid the chaos. Meteorological officials attributed the downpour to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, warning that more rain is likely in the coming days.

Among the worst-hit areas was Rainbow Drive on Sarjapur Road, where residents described the flooding as the “worst in recent memory.”

“The woes of Rainbow Drive don’t seem to end. Last night’s rain led to the worst flooding we’ve seen in years,” a resident posted on X, sharing images of submerged lanes.

Across the city, frustrated residents shared photos and sarcastic posts highlighting Bengaluru’s chronic drainage issues.

“Welcome to Neeladri Nagar, where roads have turned into rivers and footpaths into swimming pools — all thanks to Bengaluru’s ‘world-class infrastructure’,” one user wrote.

“Welcome to Brand Bengaluru, where roads are now for boats and swimmers! Hosa Road has turned into Hosa River,” another post read. Another resident quipped:

“Good morning from Hosa (New) Road, Bengaluru! This is #NewIndia! This is #BrandBengaluru! #BengaluruRains.”

As rain clouds loom large, Bengaluru’s recurring flood nightmare has once again sparked outrage — and a familiar question: how many more monsoon spells before the city finally fixes its drains?