Heavy rainfall leaves streets waterlogged, trees uprooted in wake of storm in southern India
by Aditi VermaAfter continuous downpour in southern India’s Karnataka, several streets remain submerged in water, causing major disruptions across the city. The intense rainfall has also led to the uprooting of trees, raising safety concerns for residents and commuters.
The incidents took place at Lake Silk Board and Seshadri Road in Bengaluru and the video went viral on October 21.
Visuals showed after a heavy downpour, the roads are completely waterlogged, with water levels rising high enough to make it difficult for vehicles to pass through. Cars and bikes struggle as they navigate through the flooded streets, creating waves as they move. In another shot, a large tree has fallen over, likely due to the relentless rain, blocking part of the road. The atmosphere feels chaotic, with water rippling across the streets and the toppled tree lying amidst the aftermath of the storm.
According to reports, the deputy commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District declared a holiday for schools and anganwadis. A statement issued by the Karnataka government on Monday morning stated that G Jagadeesh issued a verbal order and an official notification will be issued soon.
“Due to continuous rain in Bengaluru Urban district, a holiday has been declared on October 21 for all Anganwadi centers, as well as private and aided primary and high schools, as a precautionary measure in the interest of students,” the statement said.
However, all colleges offering degrees, postgraduate degrees, diplomas, engineering, and ITI courses will remain open, and no holiday has been declared for these institutions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bengaluru has issued an ‘orange alert’ for heavy rains over the next three hours across Bengaluru. According to the IMD, moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers, accompanied by lightning, are likely in the coming hours. IMD said Bengaluru received 62 mm of rain in 24 hours till 8:30 am on October 21.
The decision has, however, created confusion among parents and students as many school buses had operated before the announcement. Many parents said their children had left for school before the announcement was made. Some private schools had opted for online classes, anticipating the rainfall.