Heavy rains flood Bengaluru: Low-lying areas inundated; schools, colleges closed today

Bengaluru: Bengaluru faced severe disruption on Tuesday as heavy rains flooded Manyata Tech Park and low-lying areas of the city. In response, the Bengaluru Urban District Commissioner announced that all schools and colleges will remain closed on Wednesday due to the predicted continuation of heavy rainfall, aiming to prevent any accidents. Many private schools have also opted to close on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, responsible for the Bengaluru Urban district, visited the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) control room and instructed officials to remain vigilant around the clock. "Bengaluru has received an unexpected rainfall of 65 mm. As there is a possibility of rain over the next three days, the BBMP control room and officials must remain operational 24 hours a day," he said.

Traffic was heavily affected, with vehicle riders and drivers stuck in long jams as major roads were submerged. Manyata Tech Park, home to numerous software companies and apartments, experienced significant flooding, causing major inconvenience for tech workers. Authorities worked for three to four hours to clear the waterlogging.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress government for the situation, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the city. "Bengaluru's rain fury has exposed the utter collapse of infrastructure! The so-called 'Silicon Valley of India' is now drowning in its own negligence. The IT corridor is flooded, roads are impassable, and the city is sinking," he stated.

"This isn't just rain, it's the failure of governance. Congress' weak policies have ruined Brand Bengaluru. Potential investors are backing off, questioning how a 'global tech hub' can't handle basic urban management. Wake up! The city's future is at stake," charged Kumaraswamy.

Dy CM Shivakumar stated, "The weather report indicates that due to a drop in atmospheric pressure over the Bay of Bengal, unexpected rain will continue for the next four days. In light of this, we have taken precautions, including announcing holidays for schools," he said.

"Typically, Bengaluru receives an average of 5 mm of rain, but today the rainfall has increased by 228 per cent. Complaints have been received regarding water entering homes in 142 locations due to the rain on Tuesday. Thirty trees have fallen, and we have cleared them in 22 locations. In 32 locations, tree branches have fallen, obstructing traffic, with 27 of these cleared immediately," Shivakumar informed.

"For any issues faced due to rain within the BBMP jurisdiction, residents can call the toll-free helpline 1533. Area-specific helplines have also been released. Due to the unexpected rain, I am personally visiting the BBMP control room to monitor the situation," he said.

Agency