After rain tragedy, mayor says Bengaluru 'better off than Chennai and Mumbai'

 Bengaluru can handle downpour, but Saturday’s rain was sudden, Mayor G Padmavathi said on Sunday. Citing the example of Chennai and Mumbai, she said these cities came to a standstill because of flash floods. But that is not the case in Bengaluru.

She was speaking to reporters during a visit, along with Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, to the bridge in Kurubarahalli where emergency services personnel are searching for a man who was washed away on Saturday.

Padmavathi said the work on desilting stormwater drains (SWDs) was completed around five months ago here. “The SWDs are again filled with silt as people continue to dump waste in it,” she said.

She blamed contractors for the delay in the civil work. They cause delays, citing financial bids and the tender process. “There are some problems and one cannot escape nature’s fury. Though rain wreaks havoc every year, we are trying to ensure no untoward incident happens,” she said.

George said the BBMP team was working on improving the 165-km SWD network in the city, but people should still be careful. He said there were 195 dangerous points along SWDs, of which 50 have been repaired by the BBMP.

Residents, however, were quick to dismiss the minister’s and mayor’s claims. They asked why no precautionary measures were put in place, though two people were washed away in rainwater in the past two years. Emergency services personnel said the government should have taken precautionary measures.

“Every time it rains, officials blame the weather. But why can’t they equip themselves? Every year people are paying with their lives,” said Shivamurthy, a resident of Kurubarahalli.

Padmavathi said the contractors had started the work on desilting the SWDs. But she had no answer as to why the work was not taken up earlier. She said the BBMP staff along with the SDRF will resume the rescue operation at Kurubarahalli at 5.30 am on Monday. A total of 90 personnel are involved in the operation. 

“We are yet to consider whether there is a need for another survey to identify more flood-prone areas,” she said.

It’s going to rain for 3 more days

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thundershowers in the city for the next two to three days. Bengaluru recorded a rainfall of 40.8 mm till Sunday morning.

According to the IMD, Saturday’s downpour was the highest Bengaluru had received in 24 hours for May this year. Last year, the city had received 46.6 mm rainfall on May 7. According to IMD officials, sudden downpour coupled with thunderstorm is common during pre- monsoon showers. The city and most parts of south interior Karnataka are experiencing cloudy sky and thunder showers because of an upper air circulation over Rayalaseema and neighbourhood.