On Monday evening, heavy rain wreaked havoc on the elevated expressway along Ballari Road in Bengaluru, causing widespread disruption and vehicle breakdowns, including luxury cars and BMTC buses. According to reports from Deccan Herald, the downpour temporarily flooded the flyover, creating challenging conditions for motorists navigating the waterlogged roads. Traffic police were deployed, using umbrellas to manage the flow of vehicles amidst the chaos.
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre noted that while the rain was beneficial, it was of low intensity in most areas, yet significantly impacted North Bengaluru and parts of the city’s core.
Many stranded motorists sought refuge under metro stations, bus stands, and nearby buildings as light showers persisted for hours. The situation was particularly severe along the KIA elevated corridor at Kodigehalli, affecting incoming traffic towards Hebbal junction. Diversions were put in place near the Railway bridge, with commuters advised to use service roads.
Social media posts by MN Anucheth, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), urged cooperation from commuters as efforts continued to manage the aftermath. Some commuters raised concerns about rainwater pouring onto the lower sections of the Ballari Road expressway, highlighting alleged maintenance issues despite toll collection by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Efforts are ongoing to mitigate the impact of such weather events on Bengaluru’s infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improved maintenance and preparedness.