The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an “orange alert” for Bengaluru, signaling the likelihood of very heavy rainfall (11 cm to 20 cm), even as Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that flooding issues have been resolved in 70% of the city’s identified flood-prone areas. The alert comes after relentless downpours over the past few days have led to widespread waterlogging and disruption across the city.
The orange alert for Bengaluru specifically points to an expected impact of 8 cm to 10 cm of rain, which, while not considered extreme for rural areas, poses a significant challenge for a concretized urban landscape like Bengaluru, where blocked drainage outlets exacerbate the problem. The IMD has also issued a “yellow alert” (heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm) for several other districts across Karnataka, including Bagalkot, Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Chikkaballapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Kolar, Koppal, and Vijayanagara.
The current spell of pre-monsoon showers has been particularly intense, with some areas of Bengaluru recording over 100 mm of rain between Sunday night and Monday morning. Rajarajeshwari Nagar, for instance, reported 132 mm of rainfall, the highest in Karnataka. This deluge has led to severe waterlogging at major junctions such as Silk Board, Manyata Tech Park, and various underpasses, disrupting traffic and daily life for residents. Tragically, at least one fatality due to a wall collapse has been reported in Mahadevapura, underscoring the severity of the situation. Two other electrocution deaths were also reported.
In response to the crisis, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the portfolio of Bengaluru Development, assured the public that significant progress has been made in addressing the city’s perennial flooding problem. He stated that out of 210 identified flood-prone areas, issues in 166 (70%) have been resolved. Work is currently underway in 24 areas, with plans to commence work in the remaining 20 soon. Shivakumar highlighted the construction of 197 km of storm water drains as part of the mitigation efforts. He further noted that the city’s traffic police had identified 132 trouble spots prone to flooding, of which 82 have been addressed, with work pending on 41.
While acknowledging that rainfall is a natural phenomenon beyond human control, Shivakumar emphasized the government’s commitment to “control the controllables” by rectifying flood-prone areas and assisting affected citizens. He visited impacted areas, including Sai Layout and Silk Board Junction, on Monday to assess the situation firsthand.
Despite the Deputy CM’s assurances, residents and opposition parties have voiced concerns about the recurring nature of the floods, criticizing the city’s infrastructure and what they perceive as a lack of long-term solutions. Social media has been abuzz with images of submerged vehicles and homes, reflecting the frustration of Bengalureans. Experts and citizens alike point to rapid urbanization, encroachment on lakes and wetlands, and inadequate stormwater drain infrastructure as primary causes of the city’s vulnerability to heavy rains.
The IMD’s forecast indicates that Bengaluru can expect continued rainfall, with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of heavy rain or thunderstorms, until at least May 25. The coming days will be crucial in determining the effectiveness of the ongoing flood prevention and mitigation efforts as the city continues to grapple with the pre-monsoon downpours.