With 18.4 cm rain, Bengaluru breaks its record of highest rainfall received within 24 hours

The torrential downpour in Bengaluru late Monday night and on Tuesday morning left a number of areas waterlogged. With many vehicles half-submerged, the amount of rainfall received by the city in a mere 24 hours was nothing short of record breaking.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Corporation (KSNMDC), Bilekahalli in South Bengaluru recorded 18.4 cm rainfall - the highest the city has ever received in 24 hours. Previously, the record rainfall in a day stood at 16.6 cm in the year 1890.

The Meteorological Centre’s figures vary however: Met Department Director Sundar Metri told TNM that the HAL Airport Observatory recorded 14.4 cm rainfall and the City Station recorded 12.9 cm rainfall in 24 hours. This is less than the 16.6 cm recorded in 1890.

However, it must be noted that the KSNMDC has 40 rain gauges, while Met department only has three; the third one being at BIAL. The KSNMDC, therefore, has better access to recording rainfall received by various parts of the city.

The heavy showers were a result of a cyclonic trough caused in the Bay of Bengal, KSNDMC Director Srinivas Reddy said. “The trough moved swiftly to interior of north and south Karnataka affecting Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Ramanagara, Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts,” he added.

Photo by: Bharani Setlur

The rain, which began late on Monday night and lasted way into early hours of Tuesday left areas like Indiranagar, Ulsoor, Vivek Nagar, Shantinagar, Bilekahalli, Anugraha Layout, Wilson Garden and Koramangala, waterlogged. Apart from inundating the roads, the water also entered into the homes of many residents, while many trees were left uprooted.

Many social media users posted photos of inundated streets and partially submerged vehicles.

Also read: Rains lash Bengaluru, leave several areas of the city waterlogged

In 2016, Bengaluru had experienced heavy rainfall in July, causing artificial flooding in many areas. The Bellandur lake also overflowed due to the rains, leaving low lying roads in surrounding areas to get waterlogged. In some places, NDRF and SDRF boats had to be deployed to rescue stranded people.