Tractors back to rescuing stranded residents of flood-prone areas  

Residents in Bengaluru face severe flooding despite promises of protection, leading to widespread damage and transportation disruptions

“We were promised last year by the Chief Minister, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP), and our MLA that our layout will not be flooded anymore. Hence, I replaced a lot of my furniture, got all of my doors changed, and rented out my house after the last damage. Yet, here we are again with water up to our knees and deep inside our house,” lamented Neelufur Ahamed, a resident of Sri Sai Layout in Horamavu.

Many residents of this layout refurbshed their houses in the hope that there would not be anymore rain damage. But the incessant rains on Tuesday which also continued into Wednesday left all streets of the layout flooded, affecting about 200 houses.

On Wednesday, the sounds of pump motors, tractors ferrying people could be heard and seen in the layout. 

The residents alleged that although their layout was not considered a low-lying area before, owing to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) acquiring and increasing the height of a land parcel nearby, the layout gets water from all sides.  

“For this, we were told that a vent will be built along the railway track and that will prevent flooding. They told us that work had started on it. But now they are saying that the flooding is because of water coming from the Hebbal and the Challakere lakes and other storm-water drain complications,” Ms. Ahamed said. The residents claimed that it will take at least three days for the water to subside.  

As for Kendriya Vihar Apartments in Yelahanka, this is the second time in two weeks this year that the premises were flooded. Most people were packing bags and heading for their relatives’ or friends’ houses on Wednesday, as there was no power and no easy way to travel with the apartment towers being surrounded by water. Tractors were the only mode of commute as water was almost three feet deep in some areas.  

“Measures taken up by the BBMP two years ago helped us a lot. But this time, owing to construction activity nearby, materials piled up near two of our walls. When it rained consistently, the two walls collapsed leading to water coming inside. What we now seek from the civic body is a permanent solution to ensure that the water does not come inside our premises,” said Uday Kumar, a member of the residents’ welfare association.