BBMP workers clearing flooded Mysuru road flyover in Bengaluru.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
With the southwest monsoon intensifying, Bengaluru experienced more than two spells of rain in many areas on Sunday, disrupting traffic and causing 17 tree-fall incidents in the city, according to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) data.
Morning showers, combined with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city, led to traffic disruptions in central and southern Bengaluru. As the rain gained momentum towards the evening, nearly all major junctions, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD), were choked with traffic.
Commuters using the Hebbal route faced ordeal, with over ten locations experiencing severe flooding.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., the Bengaluru city observatory recorded 12.3 mm of rainfall, the HAL airport recorded 13.5 mm, and the Bengaluru International Airport observatory recorded 24 mm.
BBMP data showed that 17 trees were uprooted and 32 incidents of branches getting snapped were reported. This marked the third consecutive day of such incidents. More than five two-wheelers parked on the streets were damaged due to tree-falls and snapped branches.
Traffic jam
In the morning, areas such as Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Koramangala, and Electronics City saw jam-packed bylanes, as many main roads were closed for VVIP movement. Despite it being a Sunday, there was heavy traffic jam. An officer posted in Koramangala attributed this to people heading out for leisure activities.
By afternoon, central Bengaluru, including Ashok Nagar, M.G. Road, Shanthalanagar, and Shanthinagar, saw similar congestion. Multiple spells of rain had by then inundated several city roads, worsening traffic conditions.
Major junctions such as Richmond Circle, Kengal Hanumanthaiah Road in Shanthinagar, Shivananda Circle, Shoolay Circle, and the bylanes of Chickpet reported severe flooding. K.R. Market was clogged with dirt and the traffic made the area almost unbearable.
Flooding at Hebbal
At least ten locations in Hebbal, especially under the flyover, experienced heavy flooding. However, traffic was not severely affected, as it was a Sunday.
A senior traffic police officer in the northeast division told The Hindu that the flyover ramp and several spots opposite Manyata Tech Park were flooded, but congestion was minimal since fewer vehicles were on the road in the afternoon.
“The U-shaped curve of the Hebbal flyover near the tech park was severely flooded, and the down ramp towards the airport was in a similar condition, causing problems for commuters. There is an outlet for water to drain into the lake, but it has been non-functional, which is causing significant trouble,” the officer said.
He expressed disappointment over the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and BBMP for failing to clear the large piles of silt excavated from drains.
The BWSSB has been clearing several storm-water drains during this peak monsoon season, leaving many bylanes gridlocked. Such works are under way in Ejipura, Shivananda Circle, and Ashok Nagar.
“They dug out the drainage silt and left huge mounds on the roads, which emit a foul smell. Our businesses are suffering, and the smell is unbearable,” said Karthik, a shopkeeper on Ejipura Road.
Shopkeepers remain in the dark about when the piles of drain silt will be removed, even as rain is expected to intensify in the coming days. The IMD forecasts that Bengaluru will receive rain for the next five days, with the southwest monsoon bringing light to moderate showers to south interior Karnataka during this period.
Published – August 10, 2025 10:59 pm IST
