Heavy rains, blocked drains strand thousands in Bengaluru

More rain is predicted for the city in the next two days Blocking of culverts and drains a major reason for the flooding 

Boats running on roads, people fishing on the roads, water-logged drains and traffic jams. This not is a scene from Mumbai or Chennai. This is the status of very own IT capital Bengaluru, after heavy rains on Thursday night.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the city received 41 mm rainfall last night. And the same weather condition is likely to persist for two more days.

"There was a trough of low pressure in the atmosphere, spreading over the Marathwada region to the Tamil Nadu coast. Hence, Karnataka also witnessed a good amount of rainfall. Now there is another weather system extending from the Rayalseema region to the Tamil Nadu coast, and this may also result in rains in southern and interior Karnataka," said Sundar Metri, IMD Director.

Following the warning from the weather department, City Mayor Manjunath Reddy assured that the BBMP, along with National Disaster Response Force and the Fire and Emergency Department, would engage in clearing water-logged roads and drains. 

"In places like Kodichikkanahalli, over 200 homes were flooded as the Madiwala tank bund was breached. The BBMP was working on clearing silt from its major culverts and stormwater drains. We were removing encroachments as well, however, in this area, residents got a stay order from the courts. Now the same houses were severely flooded. We will get the stay order vacated, in the larger interest," Mayor Manjunath Reddy said.

However, he added that this was the first time he had seen boats running in Bommanahalli area for rescue operations. Rescue boats were used to shift the stranded in areas which have been flooded by over five feet of water.

There were also reports of snakes entering homes, following heavy rains. BBMP officials who were deputed for rescue operations caught and released the snakes into safer areas.

As rains had pounded South Bengaluru, traffic came to a complete halt for hours on Bannerghatta road. The road connecting to Belakhalli was also blocked due to water logging. Nearly a thousand families were affected. 

The situation in Hulimavu area was no different, as the culverts connecting to the lake were blocked thanks to encroachments. The result was that the doctors colony was flooded, and a 40-foot well was also submerged. 

To ensure no one drowned, police, fire and emergency personnel were deputed. BBMP workers were also clearing the culverts, to allow the blocked water to flow into the nearby lake.

Varada Raju, deputed director, the fire department said, "Six teams were formed, and people were rescued from Kodichikkanahalli, as the water level was over five feet on the road.  We rescued all the people struck in apartments and homes. The clogged water was diverted through drains and the water level has been receding," 

In rescue operations, the fire and emergency department have pressed eight fire tenders, four boats and six pressure pumps.

Nearly 200 personnel of the fire and emergency department, 21 assistant commissioners of police,  102 police inspectors, 325 sub-inspectors, 800 assistant sub-inspectors, 1,950 head constables and 400 police constables and home guards were deputed for the emergency.