Another day of rain floods many parts of Bengaluru

Afternoon showers uproot 25 trees, inundate streets, cripple traffic

At least 25 trees were uprooted and many localities in southern, northern and central Bengaluru were flooded as Saturday's downpour exposed the city's shoddy infrastructure.

Uttarahalli in southern Bengaluru received the highest rainfall at 52.5 millimetres while Domlur in the city's eastern parts recorded the lowest rainfall at 14 millimetres, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

Rainwater overflowed on the cantonment railway station underpass, Racecourse Road, BTS Road, KR Road, at Sholay Circle and in Fatima Layout (Thanisandra) and Anepalya.

South Bengaluru areas like VV Puram, Sarakki and Kumaraswamy Layout received moderate rainfall.

Banashankari, in South Bengaluru, lost about five trees while a tree each was uprooted in JP Nagar 25th Main, on Dickenson Road, in Dollars Colony, Jayanagar, Hebbal, Hanumanthanagar and Maruthi Sevanagar between 2 pm and 8 pm.

Rainwater even entered the metro stations at Banashankari and Mantri Square Sampige Road. A live wire fell and kept dangling just outside Laxman Rao Park in Jayanagar, posing a serious threat to walkers.

The rainfall crippled vehicular movement on Hosur Road, at Anepalya Junction, near Town Hall and in other places.

Mayor R Sampath Raj inspected the affected areas and ordered the BBMP's zonal officers to undertake relief work by mitigating the damage.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast thundershowers on Sunday as a gloomy weather prevailed throughout Saturday.

Anti-encroachment drive on SWDs soon, says CM With the early onset of the monsoon already taking a toll on the city, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the government would soon initiate an anti-encroachment drive on stormwater drains. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Kumaraswamy said rampant encroachment on stormwater drains has resulted in frequent flooding. He has called for a meeting of BBMP, BDA and BWSSB officials on June 4 to chart out preventive measures.