The Bengaluru International Airport witnessed heavy waterlogging after heavy rains on Monday, October 11 evening. The roads connecting the city to the airport as well as the roads inside the airport reported flooding. At least 11 flights were rescheduled due to the flooding on October 11 while travellers trying to reach the airport were also affected.
Visuals showed waterlogging of the roads leading to the departure and arrival gates at the Bengaluru International Airport. Few passengers were seen scrambling onto a tractor to reach the airport when their cabs refused to ply as the water level was too high.
The airport police and teams from the Bengaluru International Airport were on the roads directing traffic and helping the stranded passengers. 20 flights headed from Bengaluru to Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Kochi and Panaji were delayed, an airport spokesperson confirmed.
Flooding on roads leading to and inside the boundary of the Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night. Few air travelers reached the airport in tractors when their cabs were halted on the road in the rains. pic.twitter.com/VywA2y24Wa
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An airport spokesperson told TNM, "A very heavy downpour of unprecedented rain on the evening of October 11, 2021 caused waterlogging in parts of the Kerb side of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Since its start of operations in 2008, the airport has not seen such unprecedented rain on a single day."
The spokesperson added, "Though the drainage system in the Kerb area is working well, the sudden high intensity rain caused water logging for a short duration. Our team was immediately pressed into action and the issue has been resolved. There was water logging at one of the junctions and our traffic staff were present to re-direct traffic."
A heavy spell of rain in a short span of time of around 15-30 minutes led to the waterlogging, weather officials said. The Bengaluru airport recorded 178.3 mm rainfall over 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Tuesday, October 12, according to the Meteorological Centre. In comparison, Bengaluru city received 32.6mm of rainfall, while Bengaluru HAL recorded 20.8mm. According to the Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru will see generally cloudy skies with few spells of rains/thundershowers very likely.
"20 departing flights between 17.30 hrs and 23.59 hrs were delayed due to the weather conditions and low visibility. Flights have resumed normal operations since then," the spokesperson added.
IMD had issued a yellow warning, urging officials to stay updated, in Bengaluru for October 11 and 12. In addition, a yellow warning has also been issued to Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru Ramanagara, Kolar, Kodagu Belagavi, Bagalkot, Gadag and Vijaypura districts.