<p>A day after flash floods deluged parts of South East Bengaluru, the situation on Saturday seemed far from returning to normal anytime soon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Local residents are still living under the fear of another round of inundation, as the rain has not stopped completely.<br /><br />The city received scattered rainfall of up to 5mm on Saturday. Forecasts have predicted cloudy weather with a few spells of rain in the next 48 hours.<br /><br />Early on Friday, three lakes–Kodichikkanahalli, Madiwala and Kasavanahalli–breached, leading to flash floods in several areas, including HSR Layout, Madiwala, BTM Layout, Silk Board Junction, Sarjapur and adjacent areas. <br /><br />Authorities said if Puttenahalli lake, which is full to the brim, breaches, it would cause further flooding in Kodichikkanahalli.<br /><br />BBMP has deployed workers to clear water from roads in these localities. Bescom is yet to restore power supply in several parts of Kodichikkanahalli. Officials said it could take another day before the electricity is restored. “If it doesn’t rain on Sunday, we can do it by evening,’’ an official said, explaining the dangers in restoring power in wet and moist conditions inside the houses.<br /><br />Several residents, particularly those staying on the ground floor, have moved to the upper floors or to their relatives’ or friends’ houses. “We are not getting drinking water; there’s been no power supply since Friday. Even the toilets are clogged due to overflowing manholes,” a resident said.<br /><br />“The entire area was flooded thrice in the past week. We have sent our three-year-old son to my friend’s place. Besides, snakes and rodents are entering houses. There are chances of an epidemic outbreak,” Pramod Rodagi, a resident of Anugraha Layout in Kodichikkanahalli, said.<br /><br />Recovering from the Friday shock, people have started assessing the extent of loss suffered by them. <br /><br />Manoj Bhandary, a resident of DUO Layout, said he lost at least Rs 2 lakh as several of his electrical equipment and his car were submerged in the rainwater.<br /><br />“BBMP has been reactive and not proactive in its approach to solving the problem. If the civic agency had de-silted one of the rajakaluves, most of the problem would have been solved. Presently, there’s no way for excess water to flow downstream,” he said.<br /><br />On Saturday morning, Bengaluru Ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Roshan Baig, along with Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy and Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav, visited the affected areas and directed the Palike and fire personnel to clear the waterlogging as quickly as possible.<br /><br />Jadhav also held a meeting with senior officials of the Urban Development department and BBMP and directed them to take strict action against those who have encroached on stormwater drains.<br /><br />The mayor said BBMP will submit a video of the flooded areas to court to vacate a stay against the demolition of illegal buildings.</p>
<p>A day after flash floods deluged parts of South East Bengaluru, the situation on Saturday seemed far from returning to normal anytime soon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Local residents are still living under the fear of another round of inundation, as the rain has not stopped completely.<br /><br />The city received scattered rainfall of up to 5mm on Saturday. Forecasts have predicted cloudy weather with a few spells of rain in the next 48 hours.<br /><br />Early on Friday, three lakes–Kodichikkanahalli, Madiwala and Kasavanahalli–breached, leading to flash floods in several areas, including HSR Layout, Madiwala, BTM Layout, Silk Board Junction, Sarjapur and adjacent areas. <br /><br />Authorities said if Puttenahalli lake, which is full to the brim, breaches, it would cause further flooding in Kodichikkanahalli.<br /><br />BBMP has deployed workers to clear water from roads in these localities. Bescom is yet to restore power supply in several parts of Kodichikkanahalli. Officials said it could take another day before the electricity is restored. “If it doesn’t rain on Sunday, we can do it by evening,’’ an official said, explaining the dangers in restoring power in wet and moist conditions inside the houses.<br /><br />Several residents, particularly those staying on the ground floor, have moved to the upper floors or to their relatives’ or friends’ houses. “We are not getting drinking water; there’s been no power supply since Friday. Even the toilets are clogged due to overflowing manholes,” a resident said.<br /><br />“The entire area was flooded thrice in the past week. We have sent our three-year-old son to my friend’s place. Besides, snakes and rodents are entering houses. There are chances of an epidemic outbreak,” Pramod Rodagi, a resident of Anugraha Layout in Kodichikkanahalli, said.<br /><br />Recovering from the Friday shock, people have started assessing the extent of loss suffered by them. <br /><br />Manoj Bhandary, a resident of DUO Layout, said he lost at least Rs 2 lakh as several of his electrical equipment and his car were submerged in the rainwater.<br /><br />“BBMP has been reactive and not proactive in its approach to solving the problem. If the civic agency had de-silted one of the rajakaluves, most of the problem would have been solved. Presently, there’s no way for excess water to flow downstream,” he said.<br /><br />On Saturday morning, Bengaluru Ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Roshan Baig, along with Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy and Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav, visited the affected areas and directed the Palike and fire personnel to clear the waterlogging as quickly as possible.<br /><br />Jadhav also held a meeting with senior officials of the Urban Development department and BBMP and directed them to take strict action against those who have encroached on stormwater drains.<br /><br />The mayor said BBMP will submit a video of the flooded areas to court to vacate a stay against the demolition of illegal buildings.</p>
