Rain, rain, go away?

Rain, rain, go away?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The city experienced a heavy spell of rain with thunder and lightning on Tuesday night. Several trees were uprooted following gusty winds and the streets were strewn with tree branches.

For the first time this season we had hailstorms in Bangalore on Wednesday evening along with thundershowers and heavy winds. The rain brought down the temperature in the City to 19.5 C giving people the whiff of approaching monsoon.

But Thursday was worse as trees and electric poles collapsed in Chamrajpet causing heavy damage. The situation can only get worse with monsoon picking up intensity.

While the BMP claims to be prepared to tackle the monsoon fury incidents of trees falling were reported across the city. A coconut tree in Rajajinagar 1st Block caught fire after being struck by lightning while a massive tree was uprooted in Gautampura road in Ulsoor, one near Kaveri Bhavan on Kempe Gowda Road and another near Gandhinagar petrol bunk circle near Old central Jail.

A massive tree came down crashing on Double Road near Shantinagar. A tree was uprooted near Jaimuni Rao circle in Vijayanagar, one at V V Puram 1st cross 2nd Main and another in Banashankari 1st stage, II Main 3rd Cross. Other tree falling incidents were reported from Kumaraswamy Layout, J C Nagar, Jayanagar and Marathalli Ring Road. There were no reports of vehicles getting damaged.

The drains too have clogged due to apathy of the BMP and public. For years now, rains have only brought and deposited tons of silt in the drain, and these have become fertile places for shrubs to grow. Shrubs have made open drains shallow, hindering smooth flow of water.