BANGALORE, Nov 25 (TOI): Ominous clouds hung menacingly over the city on Sunday, even as Bangaloreans reeled under the after-effects of heavy rain overnight . At 108mm, it was the highest for November in the last 44 years.
Motorists struggled to steer through roads that looked like they had been strafed. CNR Rao Circle and Kathriguppe Water Tank Road witnessed traffic jams through the day. Elsewhere in the city, residents of apartment complexes got pumps to operate overtime to get water out of their flooded basements.
The weatherman, meanwhile, forecast moderate to rather heavy rain in coastal and south interior Karnataka over the next two days. MET officials said rainfall will get heavier in the next two days and will mostly happen in the evening and night hours.
Residents of several areas faced difficulty after water gushed into their homes. People living in Kodandarama Layout in Ulsoor saw half a foot water inside their homes.
"It started flooding around 11pm after heavy rains and the entire lane was filled with water. Several houses got flooded and we were at our wits' end to move away things to safer zones in our homes. No help arrived even after repeated attempts to reach out to BBMP. They came to clear water only today afternoon," said a school teacher living in that locality for the past 30 years.
"The drainage system in some houses here is such that it got blocked after Saturday's heavy rainfall. Only in the morning could the residents pump out water," said Ramesh A, a member of the local RWA.
Flooding of residences and roads was reported from Krishnappa Garden , Kamakhya Layout, Journalists Colony, Vyalikaval, Malleswaram, Hudson Circle and Shivananda Circle . Tree falls were reported at Raj Bhavan, Ali Askar Road and Katriguppe . There was no loss of life.
Six cars and nearly a dozen of motorbikes were submerged in the flooded basement parking lot of an apartment complex - Elegant Tranquil on Assaye Road in Fraser Town. An overflowing storm water drain on Assaye Road was blamed for the problem.
Fire brigade officials took over eight hours to pump out the water, disrupting traffic in the area. Alva E, a resident of Elegant Tranquil, said the BBMP should construct a tall compound to prevent rain water overflowing from the drain.