IT city in shambles ahead of showcase mela

IT city in shambles ahead of showcase mela

IT industry’s worst predictions come true as one day of rain brings Bangalore to halt

Daily News and Analysis


The information technology sector’s worst fears have come true, at the wrong time for the Karnataka government.

On Saturday, 120.7mm of rain, the heaviest the city has seen in a single day, flooded most low-lying areas. While a major highway connecting thousands of techies living in Bangalore to their offices in Electronic City was under water, colonies that sprang up during the rise of the software industry in the last two decades too were submerged.

On Monday, the city was still recovering from the havoc. And all this while the state gears up for its annual IT mela targeting potential investors.
Time and again, IT leaders have raised concerns that the city’s infrastructure cannot cope with the rapid development taking place and demanded urgent steps to tackle the problem.

The weekend rain flooded the city’s 27 lakes, some of which inundated nearby low-lying areas, including prime real estate, home to many top IT honchos. On Hosur Road, traffic snarls increased and police sent text messages to all mobile phone users telling them to avoid the main highway.
The software development centre of IT major Wipro located there was inundated, as also the call centre of HTMT, and several other business establishments. Though the extent of damage was unclear, Wipro said employees had resumed work from alternative locations, and a disaster recovery plan was already in place.

Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, who chaired a meeting of parliamentarians and legislators to discuss the situation across the state, pulled up officials for their lethargy in coming to the rescue of citizens, both in the capital and elsewhere. “If officials fail during a crisis, whom will the citizens depend upon? I will not tolerate those who fail in their duty,” Singh said.

He said Rs100 crore, including Rs30 crore for Bangalore, would be released for relief in rain-affected areas.
Meanwhile, Bangalore Mayor R Narayanaswamy offered prayers to Sankey Lake, hoping it does not overflow into nearby residential areas.