Bengaluru's 1st rainfall of 2025 causes chaos, flight diversions
What's the story
Bengaluru received its first heavy rainfall of the year on Saturday, causing widespread civic disruptions across the city. The torrential rains resulted in severe waterlogging on major roads, leading to traffic congestion galore and exposing persistent infrastructure woes. The unanticipated rains brought several parts of the city to a halt, requiring intervention from both civic body workers and Bengaluru Traffic Police.
Casualties
Tragic incident and flooded roads
A three-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell on her near Poorva Park in East Bengaluru, amidst gusty winds. The victim was riding pillion on a two-wheeler when the mishap happened. Though she was rushed to hospital, she was declared dead on arrival. Several major roads, including Outer Ring Road, were inundated after heavy rain, causing massive traffic congestion.
Political response
Opposition criticizes Karnataka government over infrastructure
Opposition BJP slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government over Bengaluru's poor drainage and road infrastructure. Sharing a post on X, the party said, "One spell of rain, and 'Brand Bengaluru' turns into 'Flood Bengaluru!' In a matter of minutes, we might need submarines and jet skis to commute." They even recommended lighthouses instead of traffic signals to navigate these new waterways.
Air travel
Flight operations disrupted at Kempegowda International Airport
The bad weather has also affected flight operations at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Airport officials confirmed that at least 20 flights (two international and 18 domestic) were diverted to Chennai due to operational difficulties due to the rain. IndiGo and Air India issued advisories asking travelers to check their flight status before proceeding to the airport.