Bengaluru Rain: Heavy Downpour Leads To Waterlogging On Roads, Several Flights Diverted

At least 20 flights were delayed and several others were diverted after a heavy spell of showers lashed parts of Bengaluru. The heavy rains that have been battering the city for the past two days have thrown normal life out of gear and leading to waterlogging in several low-lying areas and roads.

Over twenty flights headed to Bengaluru airport were delayed on Monday night as the city, especially its northern parts, saw heavy rain and thunderstorm. An Air India flight from Delhi and four Indigo flights were diverted to Chennai, Hindustan Times reported citing the airport sources.

Schools Shut

In view of the downpour, the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadish G has ordered the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres on Monday. This is the second time within a week that schools were being shut owing to rains in Bengaluru.

The decision was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of students and staff amid the ongoing weather conditions.

All other degree courses postgraduate, diploma, engineering, and ITI institutions were given holiday, as per the official order. College heads were asked to assess the condition of their buildings and avoid using those that were weak or dilapidated.

Heavy stagnation of water at crucial junctions of the city like the Silk Board, made going from one place to another almost impossible for the commuters.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for both Bengaluru Urban and Rural for Monday. In a bulletin, it said, “Moderate to heavy Rain/thundershowers accompanied by lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural districts.

Yelahanka hardest hit

The heavy rains lashed parts of city like Yelahanka and other areas such as Sahakar Nagar on Monday night. Social media was flooded with videos and posts of flooded roads and underpasses. The railway underpass in Sahakar Nagar was flooded, resulting in multiple cars being submerged in water.

The metropolitan’s civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), for its part, has issued an advisory urging people to “stay indoors, close windows and doors and avoid travel if possible”.

Climate scientist Pradeep, who keeps a tab on rains in Bengaluru, via @Bengalururain, has observed that such morning thunderstorms in October are rare. “Some parts of West Bengaluru crossed 60mm. However, it appears to have slightly weakened,” he posted on his X page Bengaluru Rain Alert.

(With inputs from agencies)