Bengaluru is preparing for heavy rainfall on Friday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the city, warning of thunderstorms and lightning until May 25. Weather conditions are expected to improve from May 26 onward.
Thursday's Thunderstorms Cause Chaos
On Thursday evening, fierce pre-monsoon thundershowers accompanied by hail and gusty winds lashed large parts of the city, flooding roads, uprooting trees, disrupting Metro services, and leaving thousands of commuters stranded in massive traffic snarls. The bright, sunny day turned gloomy by evening as dark clouds engulfed the skyline before intense spells of rain swept across the city during peak traffic hours. Strong winds brought down trees and electricity poles in several localities.
Orange Alert Issued
Interestingly, the IMD issued an orange alert for Bengaluru around 6:20 pm, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. Within minutes, intense rain lashed the central parts of the city. IMD officials reported that wind speeds reached 46 kmph in isolated areas between 6:30 pm and 7 pm. Until 8:30 pm, Bengaluru city recorded 44.2 mm of rainfall, while the HAL area received only 3.8 mm, highlighting the highly localized nature of the event.
Metro Services Disrupted
The heavy rain disrupted Namma Metro services on the Purple and Green Lines after metal sheets fell onto the tracks near Hoodi and Benniganahalli. The disruption forced BMRCL to operate short-loop services, resulting in delays of nearly 20 to 25 minutes. Commuter Subramanya told TOI, "Metro trains were extremely crowded, with security personnel pushing people into the coaches to close the doors. The interchange stations at Majestic and RV Road were packed, and commuters were jostling for space. Trains stopped for 3 to 4 minutes at each station."
Road Conditions and Waterlogging
While the rain brought down temperatures across the city, it also caused severe inconvenience on roads. Commuters, especially two-wheeler riders, navigated flyovers amid poor visibility, strong crosswinds, and waterlogging. Rain accompanied by hail was reported from several areas, including Vijayanagar, Shantinagar, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, KR Market, Jayanagar, Rajajinagar, Vasanthnagar, Majestic, Wilson Garden, Mysore Road, Basaveshwaranagar, Malleswaram, and Cunningham Road. Several low-lying areas witnessed severe flooding, including Sankey Road, Brigade Road, SJP Road, Lalbagh Road, Sultanpet, Garudacharpalya, Varthur Kodi, and near Vibgyor School. The KR Circle underpass was barricaded after it was inundated.
Tree Falls and Damage
Strong winds uprooted trees and electricity poles across the city. Near City Hospital on West of Chord Road, a fallen tree damaged two parked cars, while another tree collapsed on a car at Indiranagar 16th Cross. A huge tree also fell near the Shankar Mutt area, disrupting traffic. However, no injuries were reported. Traffic disruptions were also reported near Domlur on Old Airport Road after a tree fell on the road. Similar incidents occurred near Swami Vivekananda Road Metro station, Banaswadi Horamavu underpass, Davis Road, and Machalibetta Junction near ITC Limited. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) control room reported nearly 50 incidents of fallen trees.
As the city braces for more rain, residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Authorities are on high alert to manage any further disruptions.
