Torrential rain lashes Bengaluru; low-lying areas inundated
The Hindu
Vehicles break down; commuters stranded; water enters houses
Motorists in several parts of the city had to go through inundated roads following torrential rain on Tuesday. The rainfall, which started by evening, intensified by night, with lightning and thunder, and resulted in long traffic jams. Several cars and buses broke down, especially in areas like Hebbal, Silk Board, Mysuru Road and Bommanahalli.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had sounded an orange alert for the day.
Commuters struggled to get cabs and autorickshaws “I left my workplace at Cunningham Road for my home in Jayanagar, but a few minutes later it started raining heavily, and I could not find cabs even after trying for 15 minutes. I had to ask a relative who works nearby to drop me home,” said Varsha, a private sector employee.
“The roads, including those in the CBD, were waterlogged through my 12 km ride back home late in the evening. It took me much longer than usual to finally reach home,” said Ira, who in MG Road.
While water came up to 4 ft. on Mourya Road, it was almost 3 ft. in Chickpet, Sultanpet and Nagarthpet. Even the Sirsi Circle flyover was waterlogged by 10 p.m. Waterlogging was reported from Majestic, Corporation, Nagarthpet, Shantinagar, Kodigehalli, Jalahalli, Peenya, Goraguntepalya, Thyagarajnagar, Guttahalli, Richmond Town, Okalipuram, and around the CBD.
As water began entering houses, BBMP control room received complaints from Hosakerehalli, Jayanagara, Shivajinagar, Mahalakshmipuram, Basaweshwarnagar, J.C. Nagar, JJR Nagar, HSR Layout, Koramangala, SVR Layout, Bommanahalli, Hulimavu, BC Palya, Malleshwaram and other lowlying areas.
“Our city is going to be flooded and sinking. Travelling on roads is going to be a nightmare”, said a resident on Twitter. “If it rains like this for another two hours, Bengaluru will be knee deep under water,” said another.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”