Bengaluru witnessed widespread flooding and disruption after heavy rain lashed the city on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning. Several neighbourhoods were severely impacted, with flooded homes, uprooted trees, and damaged infrastructure. The torrential downpour caused normal life to grind to a halt, particularly in South, West, and Yelahanka zones of the city.
Flooding in Kendriya Vihar Apartment, Yelahanka
One of the most severely affected areas was the Kendriya Vihar apartment complex in Yelahanka, which houses thousands of residents. The apartment, located 25 feet below Yelahanka Lake, was flooded with knee-deep water after a 50-foot compound wall between the apartment and the lake collapsed due to the heavy rain. Cars and two-wheelers were submerged, and residents were left without electricity or water.
Preethi, a resident, shared her distress while carrying instant food packets, saying, “There is no electricity or water supply due to the flooding. Many cars and vehicles are submerged. We are helping each other till the situation improves.”
In response, volunteers, along with BBMP officials and personnel from the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the fire department, worked to pump out water and provide relief to the residents. Supplies such as milk, bread, and water were distributed to those affected.
Damage Across the City
The impact of the rain was felt in various other parts of the city as well. Over 10 houses in Madhuvana, Vijayanagar were flooded when a sewage line overflowed, while the recently inaugurated Palike Bazaar was inundated with water. In Binnypet, a seven-foot high compound wall of Park View Apartment collapsed onto several two-wheelers, and nearby houses were flooded with rainwater mixed with sewage. The collapse of the wall also brought down an electric pole, which damaged a nearby home, requiring urgent repairs.
Netizens took to social media to express their frustration with the city’s infrastructure, questioning how “Brand Bengaluru” could be built when the city struggles to handle less than an hour of heavy rain. Many roads, particularly in areas such as Electronic City, Nayandahalli, Kalyan Nagar, Bellandur, and Hebbal, became rivers, leading to traffic gridlock that stretched for kilometres.
BBMP’s Response and Resident Demands
BBMP officials noted that the majority of complaints came from the Bengaluru South, West, and Yelahanka zones. Other areas of the city experienced comparatively fewer problems. However, the recurring flooding of Kendriya Vihar has led residents to demand a permanent boundary wall around the apartment to prevent further flooding.
While BBMP officials and volunteers worked to restore normalcy, the situation highlighted the fragility of Bengaluru’s infrastructure and the city’s struggle to cope with extreme weather. Despite ongoing work to clear the damage, residents remain concerned about future floods, particularly as the monsoon season continues.