Bengaluru, May 20 (UNI) The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday deployed inflatable boats and tractor-trolleys across several low-lying and inundated areas of the city, after a spell of heavy pre-monsoon rain flooded roads and homes overnight, throwing normal life out of gear and forcing emergency rescues.
In dramatic visuals from across the city, stranded commuters and office-goers were seen being ferried in dinghies through knee-to waist-deep water, particularly in severely affected stretches such as BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Silk Board Junction and Sai Layout. Videos also showed residents using buckets and mugs to bail out water from their homes.
The situation was equally grim on the roads, with traffic coming to a standstill in many parts. At Silk Board Junction, already notorious for peak-hour congestion, stagnant water halted vehicular movement. Waterlogging was also reported from Electronic City flyover, Ayyappa Underpass in Madiwala, and stretches along the Outer Ring Road, particularly at Salem Railway Bridge and KEB Junction, where ongoing metro work worsened the bottlenecks.
Commuters on Hosur Road, Mahadevapura-Marathahalli corridor, and the Nagawara–KR Puram stretch faced significant delays. Traffic police issued advisories urging motorists to avoid affected roads and take alternative routes.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who confirmed that the city recorded 105.5 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, announced that he and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar would conduct a city-wide inspection tomorrow. The IMD noted that the rainfall figure was the highest in May since 2022 and just shy of the all-time monthly record of 153.9 mm set in 1909.
Opposition parties targeted the government over crumbling urban infrastructure and lack of preparation, alleging negligence despite forecasts of early monsoon showers. Officials, however, said response teams were on the ground and relief efforts would continue round the clock.
Meanwhile, rain-related incidents claimed three lives. A 63-year-old man, Manmohan Kamath, was electrocuted at his residence in NS Palya, BTM 2nd Stage, while trying to operate a water pump. A 35-year-old woman died after a wall collapse, and another fatality was reported later.
The IMD has warned of continued rainfall over the next few days, keeping the city on alert.
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