Bengaluru was brought to a standstill early Monday as heavy rains deluged the city, causing
severe flooding and significant disruptions. Streets across Bengaluru were submerged,
making navigation difficult and leading to extensive traffic congestion. The torrential
downpour rendered many routes impassable, leaving commuters trapped in gridlocked traffic.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police issued multiple advisories throughout the day, warning
residents of the hazards posed by the waterlogged roads. Despite these warnings, traffic
remained severely disrupted. Major routes, including the stretch from Electronic City to Silk
Board, experienced particularly severe congestion, with vehicles barely moving due to the
flooding.
Commuter Sridhar Swaminathan shared his experience on X, stating that he boarded a bus
from Electronic City to Silk Board at 5 am but remained stuck in traffic for several hours. He
did not reach his destination until 8 am. Swaminathan’s experience was reflective of the
broader issue faced by many commuters. In a response to a post from the Madivala Traffic
Police Station on X, which included a traffic advisory about severe waterlogging on Hosur
Road, Swaminathan expressed his frustration, saying, “What cooperation do you need?
We’ve been stuck in traffic since 5:30 and still haven’t reached the Silk Board. It’s been over
3 hours. People need patience, not cooperation. Your proactive action would help manage
the congestion better than posting photos two hours later.”
The Madivala Traffic Police Station’s advisory, written in Kannada, included images and
videos showing vehicles struggling through the flooded Hosur Road. The advisory stated,
Waterlogging on Hosur Main Road, particularly between Bommanahalli and Silk Board
Junction and from Silk Board Junction to Bommanahalli Rupena Agrahara, is severely
impeding traffic flow into and out of the city, leading motorists to seek alternative routes. The
visuals underscore the extent of the flooding’s impact, showing vehicles stranded in lengthy
queues as they try to pass through the affected areas. “Swaminathan also addressed the
difficulties faced by elderly people in separate tweets, noting that the prolonged delays were rticularly hard on them. His comments drew attention to the unique struggles of vulnerable
groups during these disruptions.
In a lighter moment amidst the ongoing issues, a fellow X user jokingly commented on a
photo of the traffic queues, asking, “Hope you packed enough breakfast, lunch, and maybe
dinner for the long ride to work today?” Swaminathan responded with frustration, “You can
plan for your meals, but what about nature’s call? It’s been a very bad day. The bus from
Electronic City to Silk Board took 3 hours, and there are many elderly travellers who are
finding it very difficult.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that Bengaluru will see light
showers through August 15, but more severe rainfall is predicted to start on August 16 and
last until August 17. This worsening weather may lead to further disruptions, underscoring
the importance of robust traffic management and readiness for extreme conditions
