Bengaluru drowns again as warnings and lessons go ignored

Torrential rains have yet again submerged Bengaluru, turning streets into streams and halting daily life. From tech parks to residential colonies, waterlogging left residents marooned and angry. Over just four days, BBMP was overwhelmed with more than 18,000 emergency calls. Amidst the chaos, a young woman tragically died from electrocution, a chilling reminder of the city’s crumbling civic systems.

Activist Ram Prasad from Friends of Lake blames misdirected priorities. He says money is funneled into surface-level beautification projects, while critical work on lakes and drains is neglected. Citizens, too, are guilty of indifference, he claims, only reacting when disaster hits, then forgetting soon after.

Citizen coalition leader Rajagopal points to climate change and unplanned urban growth. He warns of rising heat islands, dwindling greenery, and erratic cloudbursts causing rainfall far above normal—something the city isn’t built to handle. Forecasting failures and reactionary governance, he says, worsen the problem.

BBMP’s Chief Engineer, B S Prahlad, admits stormwater drains are only built to manage up to 80mm of rain. Recent showers averaged 100mm—exceeding capacity. He says retaining walls are being built to quicken water flow, based on engineering flow-rate formulas.

Meanwhile, experts argue poor rainwater harvesting, clogged shoulder drains, and construction blockages add to the flooding. Percolation pits remain scarce or ill-conceived. Without urgent reforms and public participation, Rajagopal warns, Bengaluru may soon struggle with mere survival during every downpour.

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