Over 20 trees fell and water gushed into several homes across the city following heavy rains on Saturday evening. In majority of the areas, the flooding was due to incomplete desilting works in storm water drains. The BBMP seemed unprepared for the coming monsoon as as from the flood of calls at its control room seeking help from across the city.
Weekend turned out to be horrendous for many residents as water from the choked drains gushed into houses on Indiranagar 100 feet road, Nandini Layout, Bakshi Garden, Azadnagar in Chamarajpet and low-lying areas of Banashankari. Storm water drains were blocked at Gandhinagar, Chamarajpet, Arafatnagar near Old Guddadahalli, Himalaya slum at Gandhinagar and Sriramapura.
The Shankarpuram area near Chamarajpet plunged into darkness after a tree fell on an electric wire and the supply was snapped to the entire area. At least 20 trees were uprooted across the city and incidents were reported from Bull Temple Road, Hanumanthanagar, West of Chord Road, Srinagar, Nagendra Block, Ratnavilas Road, East End, Nagalakshmi Marriage Hall and Wilson Garden.
Complaints of water logging were reported on KG Road, Mysore Road, Kempe Gowda Circle, Tumkur Road and M.G. Road. Traffic came to a halt at Silk Board, Madiwala Junction, Mico Layout, BEML Junction, Bilekhalahalli Junction, Srinivagalu, Bannerghatta Road, Old Airport Road, BEML Junction and other areas. The BWSSB received complaints of water contamination in Venkateshwara Layout, Chinappa Garden in Frazer town, Nandini Layout and Hombegowda Nagar.
The heavy rains flooded the roads and affected movement of traffic across the city. Fallen tree branches too blocked the roads in several areas. Worst affected were the streets under the flyovers and near Metro construction sites. Bumper-to-bumper traffic was witnessed on almost all arterial and sub-arterial roads.
3 engineers suspended
Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy ordered for the suspension of three engineers for failing to monitor rain-related crisis effectively. The engineers, who were at the control room, were found erring in their duty. The suspended engineers are: R. Jagannath, assistant executive engineer, K.N. Krishnamurthy and H. Ravindranath, both from town planning wing.