Bengaluru rain: Purple Line Metro services affected for two hours after tree falls on viaduct

BMRCL's maintenance team is on-site, and efforts to remove the tree and restore normal train operations are underway.

Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line services were disrupted for two hours on October 16 after a tree fell on the viaduct.

BMRCL officials said that trains were running only between Indiranagar-Challaghatta and Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield on the Purple Line because the tree was obstructing operations between SV Road and Indiranagar between 6:15am and 8:05am.

BL Yashavanth Chavan, chief public relations officer of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), told Moneycontrol that the fallen tree was leaning against the viaduct, with its branches falling on the track.

"The maintenance team removed the tree and branches and restored operations by 8:05 a.m. 'BMTC operated feeder buses between the MG Road and Baiyappanahalli sections during this period,' he said."

Services on the Green Line (Nagasandra - Silk Institute) were unaffected.

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In June 2024, Metro services on the Purple Line between MG Road and Indiranagar were disrupted in the same way after a tree fell on the track. In 2018, services between Yelachenahalli and RV Road were halted for 90 minutes after a tree branch fell on the track between Jayanagar and Lalbagh stations, damaging the third rail, which powers the trains.

Heavy rain has been lashing Bengaluru since Monday night, leading to waterlogging and loosening of soil. Fallen trees in various areas have been causing traffic jams.

Also, read: Bengaluru rains: Karnataka govt issues work-from-home advisory to IT-BT, pvt companies for Oct 16

“Bengaluru witnessed unexpectedly heavy rainfall of 65 mm. As there is a forecast for more rain over the next three days, instructions have been issued for the BBMP control room and officials to remain operational 24 hours a day,” Bengaluru development minister and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said after visiting the BBMP control room on October 15.

“Normally, Bengaluru receives about 5 mm of rain, but today the city saw 228 percent more than that. Due to Tuesday’s rain, 142 complaints were received regarding water entering homes. Some 30 trees have fallen, 22 of which have been cleared. In 32 places, tree branches have obstructed traffic, while 27 out of these locations have been cleared,” he said.

Also, read: Bengaluru rains: School buses stranded on flooded road, students rescued in tractors near tech hub ORR