Bengaluru floods overwhelm BBMP with thousands of distress calls

From Saturday through Tuesday, the BBMP was inundated with around 18,000 distress calls and over 1,000 rain-related grievances, mainly from the severely affected East and South zones. Among these complaints, 526 were about waterlogging, 212 concerned blocked drains, and 280 involved fallen trees.

Data shared with TOI showed the East zone topped the list with 242 complaints—including 150 flooding reports, 42 treefalls, 32 flooded roadside drains, and 18 fallen branches. Areas like Nagwara, Jayamahal, Ulsoor, Benniganahalli, Ejipura, and Shantinagar bore the brunt. The South zone followed closely with 229 complaints, including 116 flooding and 55 treefall incidents. Localities such as Bapujinagar, Chamarajpet, Jayanagar, Basavanagudi, and Adugodi were hit hard. Mahadevapura logged 100 water stagnation complaints, while the West zone recorded 27 treefall cases.

Residents expressed frustration at BBMP’s unresponsive helplines during critical moments. Videos of flooded streets and fallen trees flooded social media as citizens tagged authorities pleading for help.

Asha Ramesh from Domlur said, “We kept calling as water entered our compound, but no one answered. By the time BBMP arrived the next morning, our garage was already submerged.”

RR Nagar faced 32 treefalls blocking roads overnight, delaying traffic and emergency access.

BBMP officials admitted that longstanding problems like encroached drains and poor desilting worsened the situation. A senior engineer said, “We’re addressing complaints zone-wise, but the volume has far exceeded our expectations.”

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