The Karnataka government has declared a public holiday on Wednesday (October 23) for all schools and anganwadi centres, while asking private companies to allow employees to work from home. The advisory came as the MeT issued a ‘yellow’ alert for the IT capital of the country amid heavy rain.
On Tuesday, at least five people were killed in separate rain-related incidents. The city has witnessed incessant rain in the last three days with widespread flooding in several residential areas.
The ‘yellow’ warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates potentially bad weather conditions due to heavy rainfall. The government said the advisory was for the safety of all those working in the IT, BT and private companies in the city.
Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner Jagadish G said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure and in the interest of students. However, all the colleges and ITIs will function as usual, he said.
He further said a general instruction has been given to colleges not to use dilapidated and weak buildings for holding classes in order to avoid accidents. He asked parents and college management to ensure that students should not go to low-lying areas where there is water.
The deputy commissioner said the college authorities should provide information to the students about dealing with natural calamities.
Deluge brings Bengaluru to its knees
While three labourers died in a building collapse after the downpour, two children drowned in Kengeri Lake and were trapped in the marsh. Fourteen people were rescued from the building collapse site while three people are still missing, police sources said.
Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed to evacuate people from flooded areas, including Yelahanka — one of the worst-hit districts — with the help of coracles on Tuesday.
According to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Yelahanka received 157 mm (six inches) of rain in only six hours from Tuesday midnight to Tuesday 6 am. Kendriya Vihar in Yelahanka resembled a river with waist-deep water.
Many houses in low-lying areas and near lakes were inundated. Household items, vehicles and electronic goods were damaged. Local residents were also seen catching fish in some waterlogged areas.
There was a severe traffic jam on many important roads. Ballari Road, which leads to the Kempegowda International Airport, witnessed chock-a-block for several kilometers. The Tumakuru Road, Old Madras Road and Kanakapura Road also saw severe traffic congestion.
BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath waded knee-deep to reach out to the residents living in the area. According to the DCM, the south, west and Mahadevapura zones faced more problems.
Addressing reporters, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, said: “You might have noticed in the media what is happening in Dubai and Delhi. There is pollution in Delhi and rain in Dubai, which is a drought-prone region. There is a similar situation in many parts of the country. We are managing. We cannot stop nature but we are there. I am also gathering information from the entire team. My visit is not important because if I go, I will get media attention but the purpose is not to gain publicity but to give relief to the rain-affected people.”
“The embankment of a lake gave way in Dasarahalli. Areas under Mahadevapura zone five layouts –Basava Samithi Layout, Tata Nagar, Bhadrappa Layout, Vayunandana Layout, Anjaneya Layout, Chitrakoot Apartment, Ramanashree California, Surabhi Layout, Someshwara Layout, Kanaka Nagar were inundated,” he added.
Shivakumar further said NDRF and SDRF teams have been pressed into service. Twenty pumps have been installed to bale out water from the apartments and low-lying areas.
What is the opposition saying?
As the rain-battered Bengaluru battled flooding, there were also reports of pothole-related incidents, triggering a public outcry. Opposition parties also attacked the ruling Congress for the situation.
“Ah, just another day in Bengaluru where Congress government’s blunders have turned Bengaluru’s world-class infrastructure seamlessly into a mini Venice due to the rains! Kudos to @siddaramaiah & @DKShivakumar for their visionary leadership – Bengaluru is really floating into the future. Maybe next term, we can invest in boats instead of roads?” JD(S) posted on X.
(With PTI inputs)
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