Bengaluru under water: Two hours of rain claims 4, streets turn into islands!
- The incessant rains of one week reached its peak on Friday when it rained 110 mm in one night
- Heavy downpour claimed 4 lives in the City, over 75 trees were uprooted
- Youth fell into open drain, washed away, body found near Kino theatre
- The Meterology Department has predicted heavy rains till Sept 14. Flooding is also expected
FollowBengaluru shuddered after heavy rain coupled with lightening and thunderstorm lashed the city. For nearly two hours, the heavy rain pounded the city claiming four lives and damage to scores of property, including uprooting of over 75 trees.
The incessant rains of one week reached its peak on Friday when it rained 110 mm in one night claiming four lives in the City and over 75 trees were uprooted. Besides, a youth fell into a drain and died. His body was found after two hours of search by the National Disaster Management team near the Kino theatre, reports Kannada Prabha.
Heavy downpour between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm on Friday night threw public life out of gear. Wind uprooted trees. Several cars parked below the trees were crushed. A huge tree opposite to MLA RV Devaraj’s office on JC Road came crashing down on a car killing three on the spot and injuring two more. A family from Summanahalli was travelling in a car from Hosakote to Kamakshipalya. They had stopped at JC Road to get the car repaired at JC Road. Due to heavy rain they parked the car under the tree and sat inside. The Eucalyptus tree crashed on the car killing Bharathi, Ramesh and Jagadish on the spot. Bharahi (38) was a staffer at BBMP Home Guards. Ramesh (42) her husband and her brother Jagadish (46) were travelling together.
The locals said that they had appealed to BBMP to remove the tree on several occasions. It was a 30-year-old tree which had become weak in the stem. RV Devaraj said he had complained to the BBMP to cut that and other 10 trees which were on the verge of falling. The BBMP had marked these trees for cutting. But “some intellectuals had stopped the BBMP from cutting the trees, leading to this tragedy,” he said, reports Kannada Prabha.
A young man Arun was walking along with his friend near Sheshadripura Railway Bridge when he accidentally fell into an open drain, even as eye witnesses were watching. The traffic police had placed a barricade around an open drain. The water was flowing at 3 ft high. Arun was walking in that water and accidentally fell into the drain. The eyewitnesses first saw his bag floating. The fire brigade and the Disaster Management Team made efforts to trace him and after two hours of search they found his body at the Raja Kaluve near Kino theatre.
Over 75 trees were uprooted by the gusty wind coupled with rain. In Chamarajapet, six trees fell down in one spot. A huge tree fell on car that was parked under it, crushing it completely. Luckily nobody was in the car. In Kalasipalya a mammoth tree fell down on houses causing damage. Tree falling were also reported from JP Nagar, Infantry Road, Ali Askar Road, Subbanna Garden, Jayanagara, Banasavadi, Marathahalli and other places also. Water flooded Koramangala, Sarvajna Nagara, Janaki Nagara and other low-lying areas.
Mayor G Padmavathi and Urban Development Minister KJ George and officials rushed to BBMP Control room and took distress calls from public. An average of 90 mm rain was recorded in the City on Friday night in the South and Central parts. Dayananda Nagara received 55 mm rain, Basavanapura 52mm, Pulikeshi Nagara 74 mm, Kammanahalli 74 mm, Kushalanagara 66 mm, Sampangirama Nagara 80mm, HBR Layout 62 mm, Mahadevapura 50 mm, VV Puram 110 mm, Lakkasandra 50 mm, Avalahalli 106 mm, Doddabanahalli 100 mm, Basavanagudi 52 mm, KR Pura 75 mm and Dommaluru 78 mm.
The Meteorology Department has predicted heavy rains with thunder and lightening till Sept 14 and has warned about flooding.
The BBMP has warned people to be careful during heavy downpour. It has warned the public not to walk in flowing water, even 6 cm flowing water can topple a person. Do not go near electric poles, hanging wires. Construct stop wall to prevent water entering home if you are in low lying area. Keep essential things ready to move out in case of flood. Shift important things to first floor.
Heavy rains reported in other parts of State also. Vijayapura witnessed downpour for the whole day. Many houses collapsed in Halagulaki village killing two old couple. In Ameenagadad of Bagalakote district, one Bhimappa Sunkada (35) a shepherd and in Desanigi village Jevargi taluk one Gajananda Harijana (40) were killed in lightning.
In Shahabad, lightning struck the Mehabob Subani Durgah on Thursday night causing severe damage. In Jevargi, water flooded the BCM Hostel and the students were up the whole night flushing out water. The entire Chikkaballapura turned into a lake due to heavy rain that lashed for two hours. All most all ponds, lakes and wells are filled to the brim and most of them were over-flowing in Kodasoge in Terakanambi Hobli, Gundlupet taluk.
One Sangameshwara Vallikara who was riding his bike was caught in the overflowing Doni river. As the river swelled, he gave up his bike and swam to safety. However, he offered Rs 2000 to anybody who could get his bike. One Hadaginala Sanganna Desai (50) went down the river bank looking for the bike but was caught in the current.However, he was soon rescued with the help of the villagers.
