Rains wreak havoc, again

Deluge: Met Department forecasts more rains next 24 hours

The Bangalore Meteorology Department recorded 5.7 cm rainfall in the City. Many streets were once again waterlogged.

The respite for the officials was that Airport and Yelahanka registered very less rain, merely 8.2 mm and 0.8 mm, respectively. In Sanjay Nagar, a tree got uprooted bringing down an electric pole. As a result, power supply in parts of Sanjay Nagar was affected. No casualties were reported. The forest cell officers of the Palike and a Bescom team rushed to the spot to remove the tree from the road.

Earlier in the morning, the Palike officials with the gangmen had to work relentlessly for the whole day to clear the blockades from various places, which had resulted in flooding at many areas including Gali Anjaneya Temple, National Games Village, DJ Halli, Altaf Nagar, Nayandanahalli and surrounding areas.

Ministers visit

Home Minister R Ashoka and BWSSB Minister Suresh Kumar visited many rain-affected areas and took stock of the situation. They said an action plan would be prepared to rid the City of flooding permanently, which includes arresting rainwater to increase the groundwater table. The Meteorology department has warned of heavy rains in the South Interior Karnataka including Bangalore in the next 24 hours.

More rains

Director of the Meterological Department Puttanna told Deccan Herald that the rains are the result of three upper air cyclonic systems working simultaneously.

“There are three upper air cyclonic systems active in the region, which resulted in heavy rains in Bangalore. There is a trough of low pressure at the main sea level, which runs from Central Maharashtra to Lakshadweep. Another trough runs from Telangana to Lakshadweep covering the interior Karnataka,” the director said.

16-yr-old boy washed away

A 16-year-old boy was washed away at Nayandahalli during Friday’s rain. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) sources said Manikantha was playing with a ball near a major stormwater drain when it suddenly fell into the drain. In a bid to retrieve the ball, the boy got down into the drain and was swept away.

However, police sources had a different version. They said the boy had gone to answer nature’s call near the stormwater drain when he suddenly fell into it and was washed away. The boy lived in a slum close to the drain and worked in a hotel. The personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services and BBMP’s Prahari team launched a search operation to trace the boy. The body has been recovered.