Rain inundates several areas in city

Rain inundates several areas in city

The Hindu

Meteorological Department forecasts more rain; monsoon vigorous over south interior Karnataka

# A car and two motorcycles were washed away in Banashankari
# BMP control room receives several complaints of water-logging from low-lying areas
# Mysore Road cut off for a few hours due to water-logging
# Many areas go without power for over 12 hours


Bangalore: More rainfall is expected over the next 48 hours, according to the forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department.

An official from the department told The Hindu that the monsoon had been vigorous over south interior Karnataka. Heavy rainfall was recorded at most places in north interior Karnataka and coastal areas.

"Rain and thundershowers are likely at many places across the State. Till Thursday morning, moderate to heavy rainfall may be expected at many places over all the districts of coastal, north interior and south interior parts of the State," the official said.

He said that over the next 48 hours, isolated places in interior parts of the State might receive heavy rainfall. "Bangalore and surrounding areas will be generally cloudy. Rain and thundershowers are likely towards the evening and night," he added.

Water-logging

A car and two motorcycles were reportedly washed away in the heavy rain that lashed the city on Monday night near R.K. Mansion in Banashankari. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) control room received several complaints of water-logging from low-lying areas such as Viveknagar, Ejipura, Kempegowda Nagar, Banashankari, and parts of BTM Layout, J.P. Nagar, Indiranagar, Jayanagar and other areas.

Incidents of trees falling were reported from several parts of the city. The BMP control room received a complaint of a huge tree falling on the Lakshmi Venkateshwara Kalyana Mantapa in Guttahalli. When contacted, officials at the control room said that it would be cleared by Tuesday night with help from the Fire and Emergency Services personnel.

According to BMP officials, trees fell on the ward office at Shanthinagar and near the Indiranagar Club.

Cut off

Due to water logging and overflowing water from the Vrushabhavati Valley, Mysore Road was almost cut off for a few hours on Monday night. A lot of debris was later found on the road after the water had drained out. Water logging was a common problem that many commuters travelling on Old Madras Road, near Mahatma Gandhi statue, near Vittal Mallya Road, Lalbagh West Gate, near Urvashi Theatre and N.R. Road faced on Monday night. "The debris on the road made it difficult for two-wheeler riders to get to their work place on Tuesday morning," said Prakash, a software engineer residing in Srinagar.

There were reports of traffic jams in several parts of the city. Water went into the engines of a few vehicles, which was the main reason for the jam on many roads.

Efforts were made by the BMP officials to clear the water logged roads in Koramangala on Tuesday morning.

Several areas in the city did not have electricity for over 12 hours. Areas coming under Bangalore south and east did not have power till noon on Tuesday.

When contacted, officials of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) said that a tree branch fell on the 66 kV line, which subsequently snapped.

"Three sub-stations were affected after the line snapped. The HAL-Audugodi line was repaired this morning. The situation has returned to normalcy," the Chief Engineer of BESCOM said.