Bengaluru, 20 May

Relentless rain has left large parts of Bengaluru paralysed, flooding homes, crippling traffic, and triggering serious health concerns.

In KR Puram’s Chelikere area, hundreds of homes were inundated, sparking public outrage. Residents blamed civic agencies, particularly the BBMP and BWSSB, for negligence. “BWSSB had dug up roads just before the rain. The debris blocked drains, and muddy water flooded our homes,” said resident Praveen Kumar. “This is a man-made disaster,” added Sampath, another resident. Despite efforts, stagnant water remains, and many families are stranded without drinking water or food.

Rain tragedy
In BTM Layout 2nd Stage, a 12-year-old boy, Dinesh, and 55-year-old Manmohan Kamath were electrocuted while attempting to clear floodwater from their apartment basement. Police say Kamath was using an external motor pump when a short circuit occurred. The building’s power supply has since been cut, and Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs) have been filed.

Neighbouring Bommanahalli also reported severe waterlogging, as did Rajarajeshwari Nagar, where residents waded through waist-deep water. In Jayanagar, fallen trees blocked roads and disrupted power supply.

The under-construction Central Silk Board metro station was also waterlogged, worsening traffic along Outer Ring Road and Hosur Road. Authorities temporarily restricted vehicle movement overnight to facilitate water clearance.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) and IMD attribute the heavy rainfall to a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and a trough stretching across interior Karnataka.

Health hazards & wildlife intrusion

Floodwaters have become breeding grounds for infections in low-lying areas like BTM Layout, Silk Board, KR Puram, and Bommanahalli. Health officials warn of outbreaks, particularly in slum pockets. BBMP teams are distributing basic medicines and deploying doctors.

To make matters worse, snake sightings have spiked. Snakelets were found in homes in Chelikere and near Bilekahalli. BBMP has now stationed snake catchers in flood-prone areas.

“We’re dealing with disease, power cuts, blocked roads, and now snakes,” said Ravi, a resident of Bommanahalli. “This isn’t just rain—it’s an administrative collapse.”

Residents continue to call for urgent and effective action as rainfall shows no signs of letting up.

DKS says govt not at fault
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said officials are on the field and attending to the issues caused by the downpour, and there is no need for anyone to worry.

Shivakumar, who is also minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, asserted that the government is committed to protect the lives and properties of the people, as he hit back at the opposition's criticism of the administration's "failure" in managing the situation, by asking them whether they can stop nature?