Downpour triggers traffic jams

Downpour triggers traffic jams
DH News Service, Bangalore:
A brief spell of rain is enough to throw Bangalore's traffic out of gear. Between 6.30 and 7.40 pm on Wednesday evening, traffic police were reduced to mute spectators, with vehicles jammed at major junctions and adjoining roads.


Commuters’ patience was tested to the hilt on the following roads: MEG Centre, near Phillips building up to Anjaneya Swamy temple, RRMR Circle, Richmond town, Richmond circle (up to Shanti Nagar). Traffic moved at snail’s pace in the Halasur area as well.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Town Hall, Majestic, KR Road, NR Road, Siddalingaiah Circle, Police Thimmaiah Circle, KR Circle, JC Road, Nrupatunga Road, Subhash Nagar bus station area, and at the Railway station.

The city received 11.6 mm of rainfall, till 8.30 pm on Wednesday. Rain and thundershowers are expected to continue in the City over the next two days.

“The North East Monsoon, which is active between October and December, has commenced over southern the peninsula,” said Muthuchami, Director, Meteorological Department. “During the South West Monsoon, the pressure gradient is towards the north, and stronger. During the North East Monsoon, the pressure gradient is towards the south, and is comparatively weak. Due to this, the north-easterly wind is over the southern peninsula. So south interior Karnataka receives rain during this period,” he explained.

A tree came crashing down at Muniramaiah Block near the New BEL Road. However, no one was injured. BBMP staff, with help of passersby and police, cleared the road. No other untoward incidents were reported.

Car goes up in flames

A car accidentally went up in flames at the Ulsoor Gate signal junction. In spite of the heavy rain, the vehicle was gutted in less than 20 minutes. This led to disruption in traffic for nearly an hour.

The owner of the car, Sreenivas Babu (a resident of Kodigehalli) and four of his friends were travelling at the time of the accident. The occupants of the car escaped unhurt.

Sreenivas said he stopped the vehicle at the signal. He switched on the ignition after the light turned green, and the vehicle burst into flames immediately. The tank contained 20 litres of fuel. Srinivas said that the fire might have been caused by an electrical short-circuit.