Bengaluru is under an orange alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) due to heavy rainfall. As a result, the Karnataka government has announced a school holiday for Wednesday, while tech companies have been encouraged to allow employees to work from home.
Colleges and universities will continue to operate, but principals have been provided with safety guidelines to ensure the protection of students during these challenging weather conditions. Additionally, Thursday, October 17, has been designated as a state holiday for Valmiki Jayanti.
Since early Tuesday morning, Bengaluru has been experiencing relentless rain, leading to waterlogging and traffic congestion in various parts of the city. The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for Tumakuru, Mysuru, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kolar, Shivamogga, and Chikkaballapura, as well as coastal Karnataka, warning of deteriorating weather conditions that may disrupt daily life. Rain and overcast skies are predicted for the city from October 14 to 17.
Manyata Tech Park, a significant technology hub, experienced severe waterlogging on Tuesday, and videos of the flooded roads within the park in Nagawara went viral online.
Motorists struggled to navigate the city due to the downpour, which caused several roads in Varthur, Hebbal, Kadubeesanahalli, and other areas to become waterlogged. Major roads, including ORR, Tumakuru Road, and Airport Road, reported significant traffic gridlocks. Heavy waterlogging was also noted on Bellary Road at Hunsamaranahalli.
“Traffic towards the airport is severely affected. Commuters are requested to plan their travel accordingly and use alternate routes,” urged a traffic police official.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) announced that a flood management team is ready to assist residents at any time. BBMP stated, “Following are the areas where it rained throughout the day, and there is a prediction that it may rain further in these areas until 8 am 16/10/2024. BBMP’s flood management systems are in place and operational. We are actively addressing and providing areas impacted by the rain.”
BBMP officials have been advised to remain vigilant. In a virtual meeting led by BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, officials were instructed to be prepared for any emergencies and to focus on areas prone to flooding.
The Marathalli Weather Union gauge has recorded 42.6mm of rainfall since midnight, with Bengaluru accumulating a total of 72mm of rain in October.