Bengaluru rains add to Monday blues; roads flooded, traffic police issue advisory

Slow-moving traffic on Bannerghatta Road and both sides of the Jayadeva underpass due to waterlogging

Bengaluru residents woke up to flooded streets on August 12 as heavy rains lashed the tech city in the early hours, forcing traffic police to issue an advisory as waterlogging led to traffic snarls.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin at 8:30am, Bengaluru received 74mm of rain in the last 24 hours. Met department officials said rain will continue in Bengaluru till August 17.

Traffic was thrown out of gear in many areas across the city on Monday, forcing many employees to work from home. At Silk Board Junction and Hosur Road, there was a huge traffic jam due to waterlogging. Many motorists were stuck for hours in traffic on the Electronics City elevated flyover.

According to the traffic police, affected areas in Bengaluru include Outer Ring Road (ORR) between Nagawara Junction and Hebbal (traffic moving slowly in both directions), Hebbal flyover (slow-moving traffic from Esteem Mall towards Mehkri Circle), Veerasandra on the E-city elevated road (sluggish outgoing traffic), ORR at Marathahalli, Karthik Nagar, and Kalyan Nagar, Puttenahalli, Varthur Kodi and Sakra Hospital to Bellandur. Traffic police urged motorists to use alternate routes.

Also read: From drought to deluge: Is Bengaluru ready for the monsoon?

Floodwater entered Sonestaa Silver Oak apartment in Thubarahalli near Whitefield, as well as houses in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar in T Dasarahalli and Balagere. Balagere Main Road near Panathur in Mahadevapura was also affected by flooding. Waterlogging was also reported at Jayadeva underpass on Bannerghatta Road, Okalipuram underpass near Rajaji Nagar, Panathur railway underpass, Rupena Agrahara towards Silk Board,  and MS Palya Road towards Yelahanka. Metro work and vehicle breakdowns too slowed traffic in several areas.

Also read: Bengaluru: Rain brings relief to parched citizens, but city sees waterlogged roads and traffic snarls

"It started raining in Bengaluru city around 2:30am., and 3-4 hours of moderate to heavy rains have resulted in localised waterlogging on roads in parts of the city, including the ORR and a few underpasses," Karnataka Weather, a private weather blogger on the X platform, formerly Twitter, said.

Bengaluru Metro too witnessed a heavy rush as many commuters shifted to the Metro due to heavy congestion and waterlogging on the roads. Passengers at Chickpet Metro Station and Shanti Nagar Bus Terminus faced inconvenience due to waterlogging on nearby roads. Waterlogging at KR Market and Dasanapura APMC caused severe inconvenience to flower and fruit vendors.

The weather department has predicted moderate rain and thundershowers in a few places across Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Mandya, and Kolar districts.