Heavy rainfall in Bangalore

Heavy rainfall has flooded India's tech hub Bangalore and disrupted normal life across the city Friday.

"Depression in the Bay of Bengal and formation of thick cloud owing to the southwest retreating monsoon triggered the downpour across the city and neighbourhood," a senior weather official told IANS here.

A record 132 mm of rainfall has been recorded in Bangalore since Thursday.

The heavy downpour lasted for over three hours starting from 7 p.m. and inundated low-laying areas in many suburbs, uprooted at least a dozen trees in some localities, and caused traffic snarls due to gridlock on the city's busy thoroughfares.

Thousands of office-goers returning home and people on shopping spree ahead of the 10-day Dussehra festival were caught off guard, as thundershowers intensified into downpour due to low pressure and strong winds.

"There was a forecast that moderate to heavy rain will lash the city and south interior region of the state in the next two days due to inclement weather," weather office director B. Puttana said.

As choked drains overflowed and rainwater stagnated in several residential and commercial areas, hundreds of motorbikes and cars got stranded in many localities.

"Heavy traffic during the peak hours and lack of lane discipline among road users brought vehicular movement to a halt. As power lines tripped and traffic signals blinked, people had tough time in getting out of the mess," a police official said.

Distress calls from people in low-laying areas to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) ward offices, power utility provider (Bescom) and police for help did not get early response, as their phones went out of order and mobile signals were weak.

City Mayor S. Shantakumari Friday visited many rain-affected areas and directed civic officials and ward corporators to coordinate relief works, as the city's crumbling infrastructure turned into a nightmare for its over nine-million denizens.

With more rain predicted till the weekend, the state government has directed the civic body to unclog the outdated sewage system and remove debris from storm-water drainages to prevent flood like situation in the city.