Bengaluru Rains: Schools closed, traffic jams, building collapse; How recent rains bring city to standstill
Bengaluru, October 24, 2024: India’s IT capital Bengaluru came to a standstill on Wednesday as schools were closed and many people worked from home. The heaviest rainfall in nearly 30 years that the city experienced caused crippling disruption for its 1.4 crore residents.
A weather station recorded 186 mm (7.3 inches) of rain on Monday, the highest single-day total since 1997. In total, Bengaluru received 211.7 mm of rain this month, almost double the usual amount for October, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Bengaluru’s Infrastructure Woes
The heavy rains have reignited concerns about the unplanned development in Bengaluru, known as “India’s Silicon Valley,” which hosts numerous startups and global companies. “If it rains for even half an hour, flooding happens,” Saurabh Kumar, an employee at Wipro, told Reuters. He noted that his apartment complex relies on tractors to transport residents during heavy rains.
In an unfortunate incident, the rains caused a building under construction in Babusapalya to collapse, leading to the death of five workers. In response to the ongoing rainfall, the local government has advised private companies to allow employees to work from home, with alerts issued through Thursday for continued rainfall.
Residents Share Their Experiences
Residents shared their struggles during the heavy rains. “Water is coming into my house from my kitchen chimney,” Sadhana Subramanian, a 40-year-old resident of Banaswadi, also told Reuters. She expressed fear about power outages during such storms. Companies like Deloitte, Mercedes Benz R&D India, and Nokia have also encouraged remote work for their employees.
However, some residents, who still must commute to work, expressed frustration over the city’s infrastructure. Residents remarked on the “lack of vision in developing the city” after enduring long commutes, stating he purchased a motorcycle after experiencing two-hour travel times for a distance of 11 km (seven miles).
Better Civic Planning Required
Bengaluru’s rapid growth has strained its infrastructure, leading to frequent flooding. Sandeep Anirudhan, founder of the Coalition for Water Security, criticized the unplanned development: “Whatever (development) is happening in our city is unplanned. So, the environment, the drainage networks, the wetlands are being destroyed,” Anurudhan told Reuters.
Studies from the Indian Institute of Science reveal that the city has lost 88% of its green cover over the past four decades, while concrete areas have increased elevenfold. This change has reduced the city’s capacity to absorb rainwater, making over 85% of Bengaluru susceptible to flooding.
Experts point out that construction on former lake sites has worsened the situation. Additionally, clogged drains have hindered the flow of rainwater, contributing to the flooding.
