Hailstorm Cools Bangalore, Fells 80 Trees
Bangalore, Apr 22 (IANS) : A hailstorm accompanied by strong winds lashed Bangalore Wednesday evening, bringing much relief from the heat and cheering up Bangaloreans who were downcast at losing out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) semi-final to Navi Mumbai.
“This was expected and we had forecast possible thunderstorms Wednesday evening,” a spokesperson of the meteorological department said.
The skies turned cloudy around 4 p.m. and turned dark in an hour, forcing motorists to switch on the headlights.
Strong winds uprooted several trees across the city but there was no report of any injuries. The mercury, which was hovering around 35 degrees, plummetted by two to three degrees.
The hailstorm and the fall in temperature cheered the mood of the city residents who were low after the two IPL T20 semi-finals were moved to Navi Mumbai after the April 17 twin blasts at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium, which injured 16 people, and the recovery of two more bombs near the stadium April 18.
The first semi-final featuring local team Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians was scheduled for Wednesday evening at Chinnaswamy Stadium. The second semi-final between Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings was to be played here Thursday.
“Looks like the match would have been washed out by the rain,” said N. Chand, a government official, whose office is less than a kilometre from the stadium.
The weather official told IANS that the city is likely to see thunderclouds Thursday evening too.
Nature’s fury fells 80 trees in City
Bangalore West was in a shambles after heavy rain and gusts left in their wake large-scale uprooting of trees and electricity poles and damage of vehicles on Wednesday evening.
In Rajajinagar, Vijayanagar and surrounding areas alone, more than 80 trees were uprooted in the downpour.
The worst affected was the Rajajinagar Assembly constituency accounting for more than 60 uprooted trees. Rajajinagar 3rd block was the hardest hit with three massive trees falling outside the ESI Hospital on 41st Cross, triggering disruption in traffic and power.
Most parts of West Bangalore were powerless on Wednesday night as electricity poles and transformers went bust. In 13th Main, Rajajinagar 3rd Block, a falling tree flattened three cars and an electricity pole. The scene was no different at Vijayagar with the Club Road in RPC Layout bearing the brunt of the rain and winds. The area residents complained that the BESCOM and the BBMP officials were not responding to their calls. But the Palike and BESCOM workers at the spot maintained that their focus was to clear areas with heavy traffic flow and then move to residential areas.
Parts of Malleswaram were also badly hit by rain. A woman was injured when a tree fell on an autorickshaw she was travelling in. Traffic was disrupted for more than an hour as the BBMP and the BESCOM employees struggled to clear the trees. Traffic was diverted near the junction at ESI hospital and parts of West of Chord Road to make way for the clearance.