Bengaluru: Heavy rains lashed Bengaluru on Thursday causing traffic snarls across the city. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded at several traffic junctions and under-passes which are flooded with rain water.
Between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., the city received an average 42 mm of rainfall. Bommanahalli and Electronics City reported the first heavy showers around noon, while Vidyaranyapura and Yelahanka in the north received heavy rains by 3 p.m.
According to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, at least four trees had fallen due to the rain, including a goods auto that was damaged when a tree fell on it at Manjunath Nagar. Houses in HSR Layout and Bommanahalli reported inundation. A compound wall near Nayanadanahalli collapsed in the heavy rains. No casualties have been reported as of now.
Traffic came to a standstill as the battered roads became streams themselves. Traffic crawled at Mekhri Circle as numerous motorists took shelter in the underpass and as thousands headed back from the Valmiki Jayanthi celebrations at Vidhana Souda towards Palace Grounds. J.C. Road saw inundation which lead to slow moving traffic.
Traffic police said vehicle movement came to a near halt near parts of Hosur Road near Electronics City, and Mysuru Road near Nayandanahalli, apart from Nehru circle where water-levels had ridden.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the disaster management cell have issued a 10-point advisory to all citizens to keep themselves safe from the rain.
1. Try to be at home if heavy rains occur.
2. In case you have to walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure you do not step into deep water.
3. Never walk through flowing water- you may get swept away or stick by a moving object.
4. Should not drive through a flooded area- you may not see fallen objects.
5. Never turn on ceiling fans or fixtures if ceiling is wet.
6. During floods movements of children, Sr citizens, pregnant women, differently abled should be accompanied by a physically fit person.
7. Don’t eat any food that has come into contact with flood water.
8. Books of school & college students should be kept at least 5 feet above ground level.
9. All important documents should be kept in higher place at least 5 feet above ground level.
10. Use mobile for sending messages only. With such action you can have continuous communication.
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) rainfall forecast during next 24 hours as on October 5 ending at 08:30 am of October 6: Widespread with moderate to heavy rains associated with thundershowers are very likely over BBMP area.
Flood Alert: major inundation is likely over east, south and central part of the city.
