NEW DELHI: Heavy rainfall over the past 36 hours severely disrupted daily life in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Several areas experienced knee-deep waterlogging, and widespread traffic congestion was reported across the city. According to officials, the rain-related death toll in the state has risen to five.
Sai Layout remained heavily inundated, resembling an island due to the continuous downpour. Ground floors of numerous homes were partially submerged, leaving residents unable to exit their houses.
Authorities reported that approximately 150 individuals were rescued and relocated to safer areas on Monday. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) provided food and drinking water to affected residents in Sai Layout.
Local inhabitants expressed dissatisfaction with civic authorities' response to their difficulties in Sai Layout. A children's orphanage in Hennur was severely affected by the rainfall.
Fire and Rescue personnel, alongside the Disaster Response Force, evacuated occupants from the water-filled orphanage.
Travellers faced significant difficulties navigating through knee-deep water across various locations, including near Manyata Tech Park and Silk Board Junction.
Fresh potholes developed across city roads, creating risks for vehicle users. Extensive waterlogging resulted in vehicle standstills, causing substantial traffic delays throughout the city.
Two individuals, including a 12-year-old, lost their lives through electrocution whilst attempting to remove rainwater from an apartment, police reported on Tuesday.
Mico Layout Police stated that Manmohan Kamath (63), residing at Madhuvan Apartment in NS Palya near BTM 2nd Stage, attempted to use a motorised pump to remove water from his residence on Monday evening.
"The connection of the pump to a socket resulted in a short circuit, causing his electrocution," stated a police officer involved in the investigation.
Dinesh (12), whose father from Nepal worked at the apartment complex, was also electrocuted whilst standing near Kamath, police confirmed.
Hospital doctors pronounced both individuals deceased. The Station Head Officer confirmed Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs) would be registered for both cases.
Previously on Monday, Sasikala (35) died when a compound wall collapsed on her whilst cleaning at a company within Mahadevapura Police Station jurisdiction.
Lightning strikes claimed two lives in Raichur and Karwar, officials reported.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru received approximately 30 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours. The city recorded 105 mm rainfall between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Rainfall continues across Karnataka, particularly affecting south Karnataka, coastal and Malnad regions. Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada's district headquarters, recorded 90 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours.
The IMD issued an orange alert for Bengaluru and yellow alerts across various Karnataka locations on Tuesday. An orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, whilst a yellow alert signifies heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
IMD Bengaluru Centre Director N Puviarasu announced an orange alert for Bengaluru, anticipating 8 cm to 10 cm rainfall impact on the metropolitan area.
"This rainfall volume is insignificant for rural areas. However, due to Bengaluru's extensive concretisation blocking water drainage outlets, we've issued an orange alert for authorities to prepare accordingly," he explained.
The IMD statement identified potentially affected areas as Bagalkot, Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Chikkaballapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Kolar, Koppal, Vijayanagara districts.
Yellow alerts were issued for Uttar Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru Urban districts.
The IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall and thundershowers with lightning and gusty winds at isolated locations in these districts over the next 24 hours.
The department advised residents to remain indoors and avoid travel. "Seek safe shelter. Avoid tree shelter. Disconnect electrical/electronic appliances immediately. Exit water bodies promptly. Maintain distance from electricity-conducting objects," the bulletin stated.