Koramangala, MG Road, UB City Among Worst-Hit Areas as Heavy Rain Floods Bengaluru Roads, Triggers Massive Traffic Chaos
Bengaluru, May 29: Heavy rain lashed Bengaluru on Thursday evening, leaving several major roads and commercial hubs inundated and causing widespread traffic disruptions across the city. Areas including Koramangala, MG Road, UB City, Richmond Circle, Shivajinagar, KR Circle, Banashankari, Yeshwanthpur and Bannerghatta Road witnessed severe waterlogging following less than an hour of intense rainfall.
At Koramangala’s Sony Signal junction, roads were submerged under rainwater, resembling a lake and bringing traffic movement to a crawl. Commuters struggled to navigate through waterlogged stretches as vehicles moved at a snail’s pace.
Similar scenes unfolded along MG Road and adjoining roads, where rainwater accumulated rapidly, forcing pedestrians and motorists to wade through flooded sections. Office-goers returning home during peak evening hours faced long delays and severe inconvenience.
UB City, one of Bengaluru’s premium commercial districts, was also affected as roads around the business hub were inundated. Several motorists were seen struggling to move through waterlogged stretches, while traffic congestion extended to adjoining roads.
In Shivajinagar, rainwater entered houses along Nala Road, creating difficulties for residents and raising concerns about the city’s stormwater drainage infrastructure.
Several underpasses across the city were submerged, including the Shivananda Circle Railway Underpass and stretches around KR Circle. A car became stranded inside the flooded Shivananda Circle underpass, forcing occupants and rescue teams to undertake a difficult recovery operation.
Richmond Circle and Shantinagar witnessed extensive traffic congestion as waterlogged roads and slow-moving vehicles created bottlenecks during the evening rush hour. Commuters reported spending significantly longer than usual on roads due to the gridlock.
Heavy rain also affected Mahalakshmi Layout, Yeshwanthpur and KR Puram, where roads remained waterlogged for several hours. In KR Puram, residents reported hail accompanying the downpour.
The impact of the previous day’s rainfall continued to be felt on Bannerghatta Main Road near Tavarekere Metro Station, where both the main carriageway and service roads remained inundated. A luxury SUV reportedly broke down after being trapped in stagnant water, while motorists complained about delayed civic response.
Fallen trees and damaged infrastructure added to the city’s woes. In several localities, uprooted trees and overflowing drains disrupted traffic and posed safety risks to residents.
Greater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao inspected several flood-prone underpasses and directed officials to take immediate steps to drain accumulated water and identify permanent solutions to recurring flooding problems.
The latest spell of rain has once again exposed Bengaluru’s chronic drainage and urban infrastructure challenges, with even moderate rainfall leading to widespread flooding, traffic congestion and disruption of daily life across multiple parts of the city.
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