Bangalore: Heavy Downpour - Residents in Quandary

Bangalore, May 31, DHNS: Officially, the southwest monsoon is yet to hit the City. A deluge on Monday evening, however, left many drenched to the bone in the run-up to the monsoon.

The City was lashed by a heavy downpour accompanied by high-velocity winds that disrupted normal life in several parts. The meteorological department recorded 41mm precipitation within the span of a few hours. The HAL airport recorded 51.8mm rainfall.

More than 40 trees and several electricity poles were damaged while roads were inundated with knee-deep water on various stretches leaving several vehicles stranded.
A car fell into a pit dug by the BBMP for road widening near the Temple Road in Shantinagar.

“The BBMP had temporarily covered the pit with loose mud which gave way due to the rains and the car got stuck,” Shankar, a resident who was present at the spot said. In another incident, a tree came crashing down on a Bescom car at Shivananda Circle.

“Luckily nobody was inside,” a Bescom official said.

People in most parts of the City complained of inundation while the southern and eastern parts groped in darkness as many electricity poles were uprooted. Bescom officials reported that nearly the whole of Sarjapur and Hosur was “powerless”. In J P Nagar 9th Cross, an electric wire was damaged in the rains leading to power cut.

According to Bescom, power interruptions were reported for nearly three hours in Adugodi, Kormanagala, Sarjapur, Singasandra, Vangasandra, Bellandur, Bommanahalli, BTM 1st and 2nd stages,

“We are trying our best to rectify the damage but it has been quite a heavy downpour in these parts of the town causing widespread damage to electricity poles,” said an official.
Water-logging was reported in many parts of the City. 

Rainwater entered into many houses in New Thippsandra, Jayanagar and Marenhalli.
In Shabarinagar, residents complained of overflowing drains. “One of the apartment complexes here had water entering into apartments on the second and third floors,” a local BBMP official said.

While most parts of the City were affected by the rains, BBMP officials said that most damage was done in South zone which has been prone to water-logging.

The Met Department officials forecast an overcast sky on Tuesday. They, however, confirmed that monsoon is yet to hit the City.