Unseasonal rains lashed Bengaluru indundating streets and throwing traffic out of gear on Friday evening.
Moderate to heavy rains were forecasted all over Bengaluru for Friday night while authorities have also been issued a flood alert. “The low lying areas of the city, especially in the south and Rajarajeshwari Nagar zone were identified for major inundation”, said Shubha Avinash, Project Scientist, Hydrology of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) told TNM.
Waterlogging was reported in several areas of the city including Koramangala, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, MG Road, Indira Nagar, Electronic City, Halasuru, Jayanagar, Banashankari, VV Puram and many other areas in the city. Traffic policemen took to the streets wearing raincoats to manage the worsening traffic.
Power outages were also reported from various parts of the city, however power was restored in many places.
The unexpected showers also forced the diversion of seven flights and delayed 21 others as the Bengaluru International Airport faced a shutdown for 39 minutes between 6:57 pm and 7:35 pm. Six flights were diverted to Chennai while 1 was diverted to Kochi.
#Bengaluru #Rains .. Half an hour of #Rain and #bengaluru roads turn into #River pic.twitter.com/dTI9Hz3Sal
— yasir mushtaq (@path2shah) March 16, 2018
"The pre-monsoon rains are due to the low pressure in the Arabian Sea. Moderate spells of rain accompanied by heavy winds are likely to be witnessed over the next two days," India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Bengaluru chief Sundar M. Metri said speaking to Times of India.
Water logging in https://t.co/pjnR606p6Y under pass pic.twitter.com/HGNLoMkifs
— Halasur Gate Traffic (@HalasurGatetrf) March 16, 2018
On Thursday, the city had recorded 6mm rains and another spell of rain and thundershowers were predicted for Friday. Rains are expected over the next two days as well and has brought down the minimum temperature in the city below 30 degrees bring citizens relief from the summer heat.
Rain was also recorded across several cities and towns in Karnataka including coastal Karnataka.
slw moving traffic @ sreenivagilu junction due to waterlog pic.twitter.com/dgI5LsYrGu
— Ashoknagar Tr.PS (@Ashoknagartrf) March 16, 2018