Bangalore experienced heavy rainfall on Tuesday, leading to significant disruptions throughout the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Wednesday and a yellow alert for Thursday, indicating the likelihood of continued rainfall in the coming days. This unexpected weather is attributed to the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon and the onset of the northeast monsoon, influenced by a low-pressure system over the south Bay of Bengal. This system is predicted to intensify and move towards the coasts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh, bringing more rain to the region. Bangalore is expected to experience rainfall until October 21st.
Due to the heavy rainfall and the orange alert, schools in Bangalore have been declared closed on Wednesday. This closure, coupled with the Valmiki Jayanti holiday on Thursday, means students will return to classes on Friday. This decision prioritizes student safety amidst the ongoing downpour and potential hazards associated with flooded roads and transportation disruptions. While schools are closed, degree, postgraduate, diploma, engineering, and ITI colleges remain open. However, principals have been instructed to ensure student safety, avoid conducting classes in unsafe buildings, and compensate for lost academic time with additional classes on weekends.
The government has also issued an advisory recommending that IT, BT, and private companies allow employees to work from home on Wednesday. This advisory aims to mitigate risks associated with commuting during heavy rainfall, including potential flooding, waterlogging, and severe traffic congestion. The orange alert issued by the Meteorological Department underscores the seriousness of the weather situation and the importance of prioritizing employee safety.
Various parts of Bangalore experienced different levels of flooding on Tuesday. Mahadevapura’s Talakaveri Layout in Vijayanagar recorded significant flooding with 25 mm of rain. Moderate inundation was observed in the East and South zones, with 16 mm and 15 mm of rainfall respectively. The West zone, especially areas like Malleswaram, experienced moderate flooding with 28.5 mm of rainfall. Even areas that received less rainfall, such as Gururaj Layout and Doddanekundi in Mahadevapura, experienced some degree of flooding.
The heavy rainfall in Bangalore also led to unusual temperature fluctuations. Daytime temperatures dropped significantly, reaching 21.9 degrees Celsius, 6.6 degrees below normal. Conversely, nighttime temperatures rose slightly to 20.2 degrees Celsius, 0.2 degrees above normal. This inverse relationship between daytime and nighttime temperatures is atypical during rainy periods.
Traffic conditions in Bangalore worsened considerably on Tuesday, with roads turning into virtual rivers and widespread traffic jams causing major delays. Many areas experienced knee-deep water, leading to flooding in homes and stranding vehicles, including school buses. Areas like Kendriya Vihar, Manyata Tech Park, and Yamalur Road were particularly affected. Tractors were deployed in some areas to assist with rescue efforts. The relentless downpour throughout the day created hazardous conditions for both pedestrians and motorists, with flooded underpasses, impassable roads, and widespread power outages adding to the chaos. The heavy rains transformed bad roads into treacherous slush, further complicating travel and exacerbating the already challenging situation.
