Sunday rain uproots 60 trees

 The areas falling under Yelahanka zone of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits bore the brunt of the rainfall that lashed the city on Sunday evening. As many as 60 trees were uprooted in the City.

The rainfall that started in the evening continued till late night accompanied by thunder. The BBMP control rooms were flooded with complaints of tree uprooting and waterlogging. According to the personnel at BBMP control rooms, around  48 trees were uprooted in the Yelahanka zone alone on Sunday evening. Major complaints were reported from Vidyaranyapura, Yelahanka New Town, Maruthinagar, Yelahanka Old Town, in and around Ramachandrapura, Kodigehalli and other areas in the zone. At Maruthinagar, a pole came crashing down on a car leading to traffic jams. Police officials rushed to the spot with the Palike workers to the spot.

BBMP Deputy Range Forest Officer (RFO), Radhakrishna, who took stock of the damage at Vidyaranyapura, said that trees fell on three to four houses in the locality and about 10 electric lines were snapped. "The Bescom personnel have cleared the lines and there have been no reports of any casualty,” he said.

Trees were also uprooted in other parts of city such as Banashankari, Lavelle Road, 13th Main Road in RPC Layout, Neelasandra, Jayanagar, Anil Kumble Circle, near High Grounds Police Station, Old Airport Road and at JP Nagar. Two trees were uprooted at Peenya. The Palike officials said that they have sent workers to remove the fallen trees. A tree fell on an electricity pole on Lavelle Road blocking the road. Motorists were stranded on the stretch for hours.

Motorists and pedestrians struggled to reach their destinations due as vehicular movement came to a grinding halt at some places. Slow-moving traffic was seen on MG Road, Shivajinagar, Tannery Road, Hebbal Junction, Kengeri, Sony World Junction at Koramangala, Majestic bus terminal, Jayanagar 4th Block and  Madiwala Junction. Kino theatre underpass was waterlogged, affecting movement of vehicles. The city received about 15.6 mm till 8.30 pm while HAL Airport recorded 27 mm of rain. Bescom received a total 3,299 calls and about 1,625 complaints. There were reports of at least 49 electricity poles uprooted.

Director, Meteorological Centre, Geeta Agnihotri told Deccan Herald that the Sunday's rainfall is a pre-monsoon shower which is a characteristic before a monsoon sets in. It is not something which is unexpected.” The weather department has predicted thunderstorm accompanied by rain on Monday and possibility of rain on Tuesday.