City still not geared up to face rain havoc

City still not geared up to face rain havoc
DH News Service, Bangalore:
There was no change in the script as the rain havoc failed to spring any surprises. All that talk about effective rain management met a watery grave on Thursday, as Bangalores roads were virtually reduced to rivers, while homes and apartments in low-lying areas had another date with water terror.


It was misery revisited for the motorists. They had no choice but to endure long hours on the waterlogged roads. The traffic movement was a crawl. Lurking on the roads were potholes and drains, indistinguishable and dangerous. Most roads were filled with knee-deep water. With rain pouring down, the traffic policemen could do nothing but watch.

The junction connecting Chord Road and Mysore Road was in bad shape. So were the traffic in Vijayanagar, Chamrajpet, City Market, on Chord Road and on Mysore Road. Long queues of vehicles could be seen at Richmond Circle, RRMR Road and other roads leading to the Majestic area.

Spillover traffic from Brigade Road caused a traffic gridlock on Hosur Road. Vehicles crawled down Commissariat Road, Magrath Road, Shoolay Circle, Commercial Street, Cubbon Road and nearby areas. Water-logging on K H Double Road led to a huge traffic pile-up till Lalbagh.

Rainwater flooded houses near Yellamma temple on 10 A cross in Ejipura clogging narrow lanes and giving residents a harrowing time. A tree was uprooted near Domlur bus stop blocking the road for hours. The BBMP officials rushed to the spot and cleared the road.

Tree-falls and consequent troubles were also reported from near Cauvery Bhavan, 6th main, 6th cross Malleswaram, and other areas. While a cow was electrocuted near Coles Park, low-lying localities such as KR Puram Basappa Layout were flooded. Another tree came crashing down behind the BMTC bus depot in Indiranagar, triggering one more traffic jam.