Bengaluru Faces Severe Flooding After Six-Hour Deluge

A heavy downpour in Bengaluru on the night of October 6, 2023, led to significant flooding across multiple areas of the city, disrupting daily life and stranding commuters. The rain lasted for six hours, inundating key roads such as Sarjapur Road, Hosa Road, Choodasandra, and Balagere. Motorists found themselves navigating through knee-deep water, while many homes and basements were also flooded.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, the highest rainfall was recorded in Chamrajpet at 60.5 mm, followed closely by Visveshwarapura, Sampangiram Nagar, and Shanthi Nagar, each receiving 46.5 mm of rain. Traffic congestion plagued the city’s IT corridor throughout the early hours of Saturday, with delays particularly pronounced along Sarjapur Road.

The scene was described as “miserable” by Mithilesh Kumar from Civic Opposition India. He pointed out that many roads were already in poor condition, filled with potholes that turned into hazardous obstacles when flooded. “Commuters are stuck in massive traffic jams since early morning, especially along Sarjapur Road and other key arterial stretches,” Kumar stated. He criticized the state of infrastructure in what is considered a global tech hub, calling for more substantial improvements rather than temporary fixes.

Areas such as Bellandur, which recorded 38 mm of rain, and Varthur with 37 mm, faced particularly challenging conditions. Residents dealt with flooded junctions and stalled vehicles, while some were forced to remove water from their homes manually. Social media posts from local residents highlighted the struggle, with videos showing cars unable to move near Balagere Main Road, specifically around Kapoor Chat Bhandar, where recent flood-mitigation efforts had failed.

“Work was done just a month ago to avoid flooding. Imagine the planning by Greater Bengaluru Authority officials,” remarked one frustrated resident, tagging Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in their post.

Echoing similar frustrations, Shwetha R, an architect and activist with the Individual Taxpayers Forum (ITPF), emphasized that the flooding issues stem from inadequate drainage systems and poor stormwater management. Vishnu Prasad from the Save Bellandur Forum attributed the flooding to unchecked encroachments and the failure to maintain stormwater channels. He urged local authorities to take action, stating, “If the zonal commissioners of East and South issue orders to build proper drains, citizens won’t have to suffer.”

The situation has prompted responses from local government officials. Maheshwar Rao, chief commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, assured residents that the latest budget allocations would prioritize cleaning drains and removing debris blocking them.

Amid growing public discontent, M Krishnappa, the MLA for Bengaluru South, has committed to addressing drainage issues. “I have personally taken up the matter with Greater Bengaluru Authority and panchayat officials,” he stated, adding that immediate drainage work would commence in areas such as Mahavir Ranches and Choodasandra Junction.

The events of this week highlight ongoing challenges faced by Bengaluru as it grapples with infrastructure issues in the wake of heavy rainfall. Residents are calling for long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes to prevent future flooding disasters.