Bengaluru: Heavy rains flood underpass, submerge cars; authorities on alert
What's the story
Heavy rain accompanied by thundershowers, gusty winds, and hailstorms lashed different parts of Bengaluru on Tuesday, forcing the authorities to put together a plan to set up temporary monsoon control rooms across the city.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), thunderstorms, gusty winds, and lightning are likely to continue on Wednesday in Karnataka's capital as well.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Pre-monsoon rains, accompanied by thundershowers, gusty winds, and hailstorms, have severely battered parts of Bengaluru, resulting in multiple deaths and extensive property damage.
Furthermore, the city is dealing with several infrastructure difficulties, such as freshly appearing sinkholes and flooded streets, which pose serious threats to commuters.
On Sunday alone, two people, including an Infosys employee, drowned after getting stuck in stormwater drain.
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Here's how BBMP plans to tackle current crisis
With the weather worsening, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to set up 63 control rooms for a start at a sub-divisional level. They will be operational by June 1.
Other measures to mitigate monsoon-related issues include the closure of some underpasses during rain, the construction of new drains to divert rainfall, and the implementation of new technology to manage stormwater drains.
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Sinkholes, flooded streets, and underpass: Threat for commuters in Bengaluru
The weather has also exposed Bengaluru's tragic infrastructure, with sinkholes emerging in various parts of the city, including one in the BTM layout of Silicon City, causing traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, an assessment done by BS Prahalad, the BBMP's chief engineer, discovered that the Le Meridien and Cauvery junction underpasses in the Central Business District were risky during rain.
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Karnataka CM chairs high-level meeting amid rains
On Tuesday, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting with all district deputy commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs to review disaster management strategies.
After the meeting, relief measures were immediately directed to be provided to affected individuals.
Compensation of Rs. 5 lakh has already been provided to the families of the deceased, and relief for livestock losses and damaged houses is also being arranged.
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Loss of lives and property due to rains
Tragically, the persistent rains have caused as many as 52 deaths from April to June, as per Siddaramaiah. While some casualties were attributed to falling trees, others were due to thunder strikes or people being swept away by rainwater.
Parts of Old Mysuru were also massively hit by torrential rains as several trees were uprooted, causing power outages in numerous parts of the city.