Bangalore, beware of your ‘Kosi rivers’

Bangalore, beware of your ‘Kosi rivers’
Flooding As Eight Tanks Can’t Hold Water
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: In Bihar, the Kosi river changed the course and flooded several villages. But in the backyard of IT city, 300 mm rainfall over the past four days and consequent overflowing of eight tanks left peripheral areas marooned.
The city, once known for its placid lakes, is drowning after a four-day spell of rain. A sample of the calamity was witnessed in low-lying areas on Thursday when these tanks overflowed.
If the city continues to receive heavy rainfall, then greater overflow from the chain of these eight feeder tanks in the northern part of the city and Elemallapa Lake in Avalahalli near Whitefield can further worsen the situation in the already flooded areas.
In the northern part, the chain begins at Bettahalasuru tank near the Bengaluru International Airport and runs along Agrahara, Kogilu, Yelahanka, Rachenahalli, which is between Jakkur and Hennur, and cuts through MS Ramaiah North City, Hebbal, Nagawara and finally joins Kalkere Lake.
Thursday’s flooding of Bhadrappa Layout, Hennur Garden, Bhairaveshwaranagar, Hennur Bande, Sainagar and surrounding areas in Byatarayanapura zone was the result of a chain reaction of lakes overflowing — the narrow ducts of the lakes could not take excess water.
In the east zone, the Elemallapa Lake overflowed and flooded the Sai Garden Apartments, a private residential colony housing about 200 families and 440 units. On Thursday noon, water from the lake started flowing into the colony and the water level gradually rose. People were stranded in their homes and were later evacuated by boats.
According to BBMP commissioner S Subramanya, with 122 mm rainfall, the lakes could not hold excess water. But now the water levels have receded in Byatarayanapura zone. “Now that the situation is under control, we have started draining water from the tanks into the storm water drains. On normal days, without much pressure, excess water will flow easily through drains. So if it rains heavily in the coming days, the tanks will be able to hold water to some extent,’’ Subramanya explained.
According to BBMP joint commissioner, Byatarayanapura zone, Virupakshappa Mysore, these tanks are in the alert zone and residents in the adjacent areas will have to be cautious. “Since many of these layouts have come up on tank beds which have blocked the flow of excess water, naturally water will flow into the areas that are at lower levels. Residents have to be alert during rain,’’ he added.
Lakes in the alert zone
Northern zone:
Bettahalasuru, Agrahara, Kogilu, Yelahanka, Rachenahalli, Hebbal, Nagawara, Kalkere
East zone:
Elemallappa
Vulnerable Areas
Manyata Layout, North City. Jakkur, Hennur, Hebbal, Balaji Layout, Bhadrappa Layout, Tata Layout, Hennur Bande, Veerendra Layout, Bhairaveshwaranagar, Benssatya Layout, Vaddarapalya, Sainagar, Sonnappa Layout