Rain in Bangalore: Trapped between hell and high water

BANGALORE: Get home, and fast. This thought was top of the mind as Bangaloreans scrambled to reach safety on Thursday evening. Those out at the unlucky hour were trapped, as two bursts of rain in an hour brought the city to its knees. As it came down in heavy torrents, traffic was washed into disarray. A record 89.6 mm of rain, punctuated by heavy cracks of lightning, threw the city into shock and awe. It started with a light drizzle around 6pm, as the city ended its workday. While short-distance travellers made it home safe, the problem began for stuck on the roads. By 7.30pm, thick clouds loomed over the city and for the next hour, there was no stopping the rain. It let up around 8.10pm for a few minutes, but only intensified later. Heavy showers coupled with a thunderstorm and lightning uprooted several trees and reports of water logging started pouring into the BBMP control room.. By 8.30pm, the Meteorological Centre in Bangalore recorded about 9cm (89.6 mm) of rain. Central and West Bangalore areas, including MG Road, Gandhinagar, Basavanagudi. Vijayanagar, Double Road, Shivajinagar, Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Koramangala, Adugodi, Peenya and Dasarahalli were the worst-affected as muddy waters left commuters stranded and washed into homes in low-lying areas. Storm water drains leading to the Vrishabhavati valley in West Bangalore overflowed, putting the vicinity under the threat of flood. Water entered a girls' hostel in Papareddy Palya and houses in low-lying Austin Town and Neelasandra. Gali Anjaneya temple was flooded too. Traffic jams were reported in many parts of the city, and there was no respite for commuters till late night. As engines filled up with water and died out, vehicles turned into blocks on Bellary Road, Double Road, Richmond Town, Rhenius Street and Residency Road. Vehicles moving from KR Circle to Hudson Circle were stuck for over 45 minutes. Sarita M, a resident of Vijayanagar, was struggling to get an autorickshaw on Nrupatunga Road. "All commercial establishments in the vicinity are closed and there's complete darkness. It's a major headache for women to reach home safely when it rains. In the evening, the problems just multiply," she added. Ramanarayana P, a senior citizen of Rajarajeshwarinagar in South Bangalore, was stuck at Hudson Circle. "I can't see a single traffic constable to help commuters. This is pathetic," he added. Mysore Road flyover was jam packed with traffic for a long time. It was a huge disappointment for cricket fans: a T20 match scheduled at Chinnaswamy Stadium was cancelled as the field was flooded. It took the spectators more than 90 minutes to get out the stadium due to traffic jams. B Puttanna, director-in-charge, meteorological department, Bangalore, said similar showers are expected through the weekend and early next week. "Due to upper air circulation and trough generated around the city, we are experiencing heavy showers at certain times of the day. There is a possible cyclone effect due to variation in the Lakshadweep islands," he added. The rain quantity recorded in other stations installed by the meteorological department was not very high, with HAL recording 5.9mm and Yelahanka staying at 1.6mm till 8.30pm. Lalith Sahu, a pharmaceutical firm employee, had to drop his parents headed to Bhubaneswar from Cantonment railway station. The rain forced them to get off the autorickshaw on Lalbagh Road and walk to the station, luggage in hand, to catch the train scheduled at 11.30pm. -TOI