Bangalore wrecked by rain

Bangalore wrecked by rain


Express News ServiceFirst Published : 17 May 2010 03:59:04 AM ISTLast Updated : 17 May 2010 11:24:11 AM IST
BANGALORE: Heavy rains continued for the second day in the city bringing traffic and life to a standstill on Sunday.
Though the rains brought much needed relief from the rising mercury to Bangaloreans, it also felled more than 50 trees across the city.
The BBMP control room informed that many areas such as Indiranagar, HAL, Banaswadi, RT Nagar, Sultanpalya, Anand Rao Circle, Sheshadripuram, Subramanya Nagar and several other localities witnessed trees and big branches falling on the roads.
A case of a man stuck under a tree was also reported in Subramanya Nagar.
Residents of Coles Park complained that BBMP or the Emergency services department did not heed to their calls as many trees had disrupted traffic and movement of people in the area. They said residents gathered enough people and tried to move the fallen trees to the side as there was no help despite many calls to the authorities.
Due to the rains several traffic jams were reported in the city. Areas like Airport Road, Domlur, KG Circle, Majestic, Mysore Road, Tumkur Road, Mahalakshmi Layout entrance, Forum Mall and Hosur Road witnessed heavy traffic jams.
According to Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) officials, around 40 electricity poles were reported to have fallen in various areas on Sunday, which include Yelahanka (three cases), Sahakaranagara (four), Peenya (three), Hanumanth Nagar (seven), Kengeri (three) and Laksandra (two).
Officials however noted that the extent of damage was relatively lower on Sunday compared to the heavy rainfall on April 21.
‘Rains to continue for 15 days’
“These are pre-Monsoon showers and usually they are accompanied by thunderstorms, hailstorms and strong winds,” B Puttanna, director of Meterology department, said.
“For another 15 days, a situation like this will continue until we get the south west Monsoon on May 30,’’ he said, adding there will be scattered rain all over the state except coastal Karnataka, which will receive heavy rains for the next 48 hours.
Due to the low pressure created at Vidarbha, which entered through Tamil Nadu to Karnataka, the city has received heavy rains, he added. “Due to the low pressure, an upper crust trough of 1.5 km had been formed, and because of the heat a good moisture was also available which resulted in rains,” Puttanna added.