Bengaluru, Karnataka: A brief spell of rain on Friday evening once again exposed Bengaluru’s poor drainage infrastructure, leaving several parts of the city waterlogged and traffic at a standstill.
Videos widely circulated on social media showed roads in areas like Arekere on Bannerghatta Road submerged in knee-deep water, with bikers wading through flooded stretches. Many vehicles were stranded as office-goers struggled to return home late into the night.
Citizen Outrage Over Civic Failures
Residents expressed anger online, pointing out that despite claims of over ₹2,000 crore spent on stormwater drain upgrades, flooding continues. Civic activists highlighted that 41 of 210 flood-prone spots remain unaddressed and that Bengaluru has lost nearly 79% of its water bodies in four decades due to encroachments and poor urban planning.
Criticism also targeted the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and successive governments. “It was the same during the BJP government, and it is the same now under Congress,” one post read. Others called for pre-monsoon drain cleaning to be prioritised or even for privatisation of municipal services.
Conclusion
As the monsoon advances, Bengaluru’s recurring flood woes underline the urgent need for effective drainage upgrades, encroachment clearance, and better disaster preparedness in India’s tech hub.