Bengaluru rain havoc: 110 mm of rainfall recorded in Jnanabharathi

The ultra heavy showers also ravaged East and South Bengaluru, claiming one life in the process. The compound wall of HAL — 250 feet long and 10 feet high — collapsed, damaging three cars. In another incident, a coconut tree came crashing down near South End Circle, killing 73-year-old BS Nagaraj, a resident of Thyagarajnagar.

As per the South Zone joint commissioner, Nagaraj was on his motorbike at around 4.30 am on Monday when a coconut tree in the premises of South End Apartment in Basavanagudi got uprooted and fell on him. The seriously injured senior citizen was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Jayanagar 3rd Block, where he succumbed to his injuries at 5 am.

Building very close to SWD

Jnanabharathi in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone’s ward 129 was the worst-affected part in Bengaluru. As per BBMP officials, property 1232/A, Leela Nilayam, situated at 23rd Main Road in Jnanabharathi is constructed close to the retaining wall of a storm water drain on a 20×30 site. The four-floor building has been vacated.

BBMP officials have served a notice to the apartment builder ordering vacation of all the flats after several Kannada television channels reported that the building could collapse as a result of the heavy rains which have loosened the soil around. The notice has also directed the builder to make alternative arrangements for the residents until the building’s stability report is obtained.

Bommai takes charge

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, said relief work was underway and that he was personally monitoring it.

“Because of the heavy rains yesterday in several places, water has entered houses and damage has been caused to some roads. We have understood the magnitude of the problem. The BBMP Chief Commissioner has already given directions to zonal officers and relief work is on,” he said.

Local legislator and Minister M Munirathna said such large-scale destruction had never happened in the area and he was thinking of a permanent solution so that such rain-related havoc does not recur. An incomplete retaining wall along the Vrishabhavathi valley’s storm water drain in the locality would have led to water entering low-lying areas and livestock loss, he said, adding that he would immediately speak to the Chief Minister and take all necessary remedial measures.

Meanwhile, the incessant rains, attributed to cyclone Shaheen, has increased water levels in storm water drains, while houses in many localities have been inundated, roads are covered in mud and slush, and vehicles and properties have been damaged.

Houses in upscale localities in KR Puram, Mahadevapura, Horamavu, Ramamurthy Nagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar and BDA Layout in Nagarbhavi were also not spared the rain havoc. Residents complained that five to six feet of water had inundated their houses, and that water gushing out of storm water drains had inundated the basements.

BBMP chief alerts staff

Later in the evening, Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta held a video conference with his team of IAS officers who are Special Commissioners of zones in Bengaluru and also with zonal joint commissioners and chief engineers. He directed them to be on alert as cyclone Shaheen is still active and can create more havoc.

Meanwhile, the IMD Bengaluru has issued an alert for Bengaluru for continuing heavy rains. HAL airport reported 63.8 mm of rainfall while Bengaluru International Airport recorded 59.5 mm of rainfall. “The forecast for Bengaluru city and its neighbourhood will remain generally cloudy. A few spells of thunder showers are expected for the next few days,” the IMD predicted.