Rain woes continue

Rain woes continue
BENGALURU








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The rain god is showering attention on Bengaluru and the record precipitation over the city is creating chaos on the roads, with traffic snarls and vehicles crawling bumper-tobumper becoming commonplace.

Heavy rainfall in several parts of the city on Saturday left commuters a wretched lot.

“It didn’t matter if commuters were travelling on two-wheelers, four-wheelers or by public transporta tion to their offices or back home — everyone seems to have reached their destinations late and wet,” said S. Krupali, a resident of Banashankari.

With 10.4 mm of rainfall recorded in the city (till 5.30 pm) and the weekend crowd adding to the congestion on the roads, the traffic problems seemed endless.

“There was water logging at the Kaveri junction again, resulting in a traffic jam for some time till the rain stopped in the afternoon. Most people driving new cars hesitate to drive on waterlogged roads and vehicles are held up for kilometres,” said a senior police officer.

He said traffic from the new international airport was diverted at Mekhri Circle, as Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan arrived in the city for two-day visit.

Traffic jams were also reported at the CBI junction on Bellary Road as the stretch was flooded on Saturday afternoon. Water logging was reported on Mysore Road (near Gali Anjaneya temple) and Bellary Road.

“I took the bus to work on Saturday. While returning home the bus moved at snail’s pace for what seemed like eternity and then was stuck CBI junction. Even if it rain heavily, I will use my two-wheeler to go to work from now on. At least I will get home earlier even if it means getting wet,” said Shantila Kumari, a bank employee.

BMTC chief traffic manager (operations) Dastagir Sheriff said buses were delayed due to traffic jams at Majestic, Mysore Road, Nelamangala, Hosur Road and at Marathalli.

BBMP commissioner S.

Subramanya said that engineers in charge of wards were told to stay alert and be present at the spots affected by rain.

“Each engineer has been equipped with two JCB vehicles to immediately address the water logging and other problems,” he said.

Several tress have been uprooted in the heavy showers over the past week in Vijaynagar, Tyagarajanagar, JP Nagar, Sadashivanagar and Koramangala and water logging has been reported on Queens Road, said a BBMP official.