Rain catches citizens unawares

Streets overflow with rainwater, waste-carrying vehicles not allowed at landfills

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) lack of preparedness was exposed again as torrential rains left scores of localities inundated and at least four trees uprooted in different parts of the City on Thursday evening.

Adding to the misery was the civic agency’s apathy towards garbage trucks which were denied entry into landfill sites.

Dozens of garbage vehicles were lined up near Madiwala Checkpost as they returned without getting rid of the large amounts of waste at Mandur and Mavallipura landfill sites. Drivers alleged that residents threw stones at them and did not let them dump the garbage at the sites. Shockingly, no BBMP official was present on the spot.

Phone calls to the concerned authorities did not yield any response. The drivers claimed they had no option but to return without dumping the waste. At present, the vehicles have been stopped near Madiwala Checkpost.

The ongoing garbage crisis showed its full potential to damage the City’s infrastructure. Kalasipalyam bore the brunt as its streets overflowed with rainwater and heaps of uncleared garbage. Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road also overflowed with garbage. The rains converted several low-lying localities into flood zones.

The stretch between Town Hall and K R Market was completely inundated. Kalasipalyam was no exception. Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road and Madiwala Underpass also joined the list of flooded thoroughfares.

Dozens of other streets faced waterlogging. Among them was the stretch between Banashankari and Jayanagar. Besides, 13th Main and 13th ‘A’ Main, Indiranagar, Adugodi, Srinivagilu Junction (Ejipura), Sony World Junction, Inner World Junction, Koramangala, National Games Village, Pothalappa Garden, Dodda Mori (Double Road), Electronics City, Veerasandra, Banasawadi 80 Feet Road, IOC Jeevanahalli Under Bridge, Frazer Town, etc experienced waterlogging.

Migrant labourers and their families had to flee their makeshift sheds at Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar, off Old Airport Road as rainwater gushed in the temporary structures. Young children were woken up from sleep and had to be moved to safer places.
Marketplaces were in the most pitiable condition as heaps of uncleared garbage and rainwater made it extremely difficult for shoppers. Trees were uprooted at Indiranagar, Koramangala, and two other places.

The downpour prevented the citizens from venturing out. While traffic thinned out on most roads, a few stretches in the central parts did witness jams.