Rain dampens weekend plans

Rain dampens weekend plans

Bangalore Bureau

Several roads waterlogged even as more rain is expected

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Motorists were put to hardship at the water-logged BDA junction after a spell of rain in Bangalore on Sunday.

BANGALORE: The sudden downpour on Sunday afternoon doused the weekend plans of most Bangaloreans. What started as a steady drizzle around noon turned into heavy downpour in some areas soon after, affecting traffic on some arterial roads. Several riders parked their vehicles by the side of the roads to take shelter under trees, and in one case the overbridge on Sankey Road sheltered many motorists and pedestrians. Several roads were also waterlogged, which posed problems to riders and drivers.

According to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) central control room, the city received 9.3 mm rainfall, while HAL airport received 0.4 mm rainfall.

Traffic on the Old Madras Road near the Tin Factory was affected for some time as a clogged drain led to water-logging, slowing down traffic, particularly near the Beniganahalli Railway Bridge.

“We had to go visit a relative this afternoon. The downpour made it almost impossible for us to come out of our house. We finally dropped the plan and stayed at home,” said Bhanu R., a homemaker.

The heavy rain saw various parts of Tumkur Road under water. Water-logging had created a mess as one approached ISKCON Temple. Being a Sunday afternoon, the traffic was relatively less, but the rain caused some drivers to stop and change direction because of the impossible conditions. One commuter told The Hindu that her car stopped midway because water ran into the exhaust.

Still worse was Nandidurg Main Road, which was filled with water on one side. The gradient and the median teamed up to cause ankle-high water-logging, with no outlet for the water.

However, while most areas in the city received at least a good shower, areas coming under Dasarahalli zone of the BBMP that includes Peenya, Tigalarapalya, Chikabanavara and others received no rainfall at all.
More rain

Meanwhile, Director in-charge of Meteorological Centre A. Muthuchami said more rain accompanied by thundershowers is expected in many places over Coastal Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka and at a few places over North Interior Karnataka. It will be partly cloudy with rain likely in Bangalore city and neighbouring areas. The maximum and the minimum temperatures will be 29 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius respectively, he said in a release.