Bengaluru rain offers respite from heat, exposes waterlogging woes again

With the northeast monsoon beginning to make its presence felt in Bengaluru, rain on Friday evening once again flooded the Panathur Railway Underbridge (RuB), leaving commuters stranded. Four-wheelers were partially submerged, while traffic piled up on the approach roads.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Bengaluru HAL airport recorded 10.5 mm of rainfall and Kempegowda International Airport recorded 8.8 mm between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on October 16. Bengaluru city recorded 1.2 mm during the same period.

The rain also brought relief from the unusual heat Bengaluru has been experiencing, with the minimum temperature dropping to 21.4 degrees Celsius. The IMD has forecast very likely light to moderate rainfall in parts of Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural, as well as parts of south interior Karnataka, until October 22.

The flooding at Panathur underbridge has been a recurring problem, with residents in east Bengaluru repeatedly flagging poor road infrastructure and severe waterlogging during rain. The Varthur-Gunjur Road, a key link connecting Gunjur and Varthur to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), is among the stretches affected.

Madhu M.S., a resident, said the underbridge had been flooding repeatedly for years, disrupting daily commutes. The road gradient and drainage constraints around the railway underbridge posed challenges to daily commuters, with flooding and blockages persisting for several hours, he said.

Latha Ashok, another resident, said various residents welfare associations had repeatedly approached the local MLA’s office but had not received satisfactory clarity on corrective measures or timelines.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic congestion due to rain was also reported on the road from Thubarahalli towards Marathahalli, areas surrounding Chamarajapet, Seshadripuram, and M.G. Road in Central Bengaluru, besides other areas.