BENGALURU: Those hoping to reach home for an early start to their weekend were caught in heavy traffic on Friday. As rains lashed the city in the evening, those leaving their offices were the worst hit as BMTC operations were stalled and cabs were difficult to find. Many took the Metro service after leaving their vehicles in offices. By 10pm on Friday, Nandini Layout in West Bengaluru had received 91mm rainfall.
Traffic at Central Business District and other major roads were stuck for several hours. Commuters near Majestic protested after the BMTC vehicle movement stopped due to a traffic jam. Commuters heading towards Peenya and Yelahanka blocked buses too. App-based cabs went off the roads following the traffic congestion, leaving commuters stranded in several parts of the city.
Waterlogging on Siddapura Main Road, Jayanagar near Shalini Junction, 15th Cross JP Nagar, Dalmia Junction blocked traffic for hours. Commuters traveling towards Kempegowda International Airport too were stuck on the road for several hours. Traffic on Hebbal flyover towards Kempapura Junction, Rajiv Gandhi Circle towards Okalipura Junction on Platform Road, K R Puram, General KS Thimayya Road were also affected.
Storm water drains in many parts of the city were overflowing adding to the traffic woes. At Nayandahalli junction, water overflowing from storm water drains entered buses stuck on the road.Not even VIPs were spared from the traffic snarls. Union Minister Ananth Kumar and Mayor Sampath Raj too left their cars and took the Metro service to reach their destinations. Ananth Kumar took a train from Mantri Mall Station to RV Road Station as he was returning home after attending a meeting at the BJP office in Malleswaram. The Mayor, who was on his way to oversee rescue operations in West Bengaluru where three people had been washed away in floods, got off his official vehicle near Lal Bagh and took the Metro to Rajaji Nagar. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took information from the officials and also directed them to release compensation for those who were washed away in the floods.Officials at the BBMP Control Room and fire and emergency services received several calls of tree falls and electric poles damaged.
Bengaluru West gets heavy rainfall
Bengaluru West received heavy rainfall on Friday. According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), Nandini Layout received 91mm, R R Nagar 89mm, Guttahalli 58mm, Jnanabharathi 46mm, Basaveshwaranagar 79mm, Hampinagar 49 and Agrahara 61mm.
More rain in store for city
The city is likely to receive more rain as the Karnataka State Nature Disaster Monitoring Centre has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall for the next three to four days.“The South Western monsoon isretreating and is expected to stay for the next four days. As the monsoon retreats, it will bring heavy rain,”Srinivasa Reddy,director of KSNDMC said. Heavy rainfall is expected till October 17.