Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 20: At least five people, including three in Bengaluru, lost their lives as heavy rains lashed Karnataka, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for seven districts including coastal and south interior districts on Tuesday evening.
The IMD upgraded the warning in response to the worsening weather conditions. The affected districts include Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan, where extremely heavy to heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and strong surface winds are expected overnight. Flash flood warnings have also been issued for these regions.
“Surface runoff/inundation may occur at some fully saturated soils and low-lying areas due to expected rainfall occurrence in the next 24 hours,” the IMD bulletin warned.
In Bengaluru, despite consistent rainfall throughout the day, the city remained under an orange alert. The state capital recorded 0.4 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 2.30 pm on Tuesday. Weather experts noted that the situation in Bengaluru is gradually stabilising, with thunderstorms moving northwest.
The IMD also stated that conditions are likely to become favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala within the next four to five days.
Meanwhile, the situation turned political as union minister H D Kumaraswamy launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, accusing it of “gross negligence” for going ahead with its ‘Sadhana Samavesha’ (achievement convention) even as the state grapples with rain-related deaths and flooding.
“While people are dying and struggling to survive, Congress leaders are busy hosting a Sadhana Samavesha. For the past week, the focus has been on colourful, guarantee-filled advertisements instead of real governance,” Kumaraswamy said in a strongly worded statement.
He described Bengaluru as a “branded hell”, criticising the state leadership for prioritising publicity over practical measures. “The real achievements of the Congress government are now floating in the city's flooded roads and clogged drains. Organising a Sadhana Samavesha for a dead government is nothing short of shameful,” he added.
Targeting Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy alleged that the urban development department has effectively become the ‘Bengaluru Cash Development Department’.
“Wherever he puts his hand, there’s money. And for the people? Never-ending taxes. How many times has Sai Layout been flooded in the last two years? What did he achieve as Urban Development Minister? He only used the ministry for personal gain,” he claimed.
Recalling his own tenure, Kumaraswamy said that during his 20-month term in 2006, he had initiated 58 road-widening projects, launched Phase 1 of Namma Metro, and developed major roads like Airport Road, Nelamangala Road, and Electronic City Road. “People often ask what I did for Bengaluru. Read the records. My work is documented,” he said, warning that the Congress will be “washed away” if it continues to neglect governance.
The BJP also condemned the Congress for holding a celebration amid widespread distress. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who led a delegation to inspect rain-affected areas in Bengaluru, said: “There is a flood situation in Bengaluru and elsewhere in Karnataka. People are suffering. But the ruling Congress leaders, instead of handling the situation, have gone to Ballari to celebrate their two years in the government.”
Ashoka criticised the ruling party for going ahead with the event held in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district headquarters, which was attended by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other senior Congress leaders. “If they have any shame, they should cancel the event. Instead, they are celebrating after five people have died,” Ashoka said.
He alleged that the Congress government was responsible for the flooding, having cancelled Rs 1,600 crore worth of development works approved by the previous BJP government.