Bengaluru's rain crisis: City records heaviest deluge since 2017, leaves five dead, hundreds of homes submerged in IT capital

Bengaluru witnessed severe flooding and commuter chaos following heavy pre-monsoon rains, with 130 mm of rainfall recorded between Sunday evening and early Monday morning. It is the second-highest rainfall the city has seen in a decade, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Roads turned into rivers, homes were inundated, and key transport links were submerged, halting public movement.

Several low-lying areas, including Koramangala, BTM Layout, HSR Layout, and Marathahalli, were among the worst hit. Traffic was paralysed, and BMTC bus services were suspended in parts of the city.

Bengaluru Rain: Deaths reported as water enters homes
Tragedy struck when three people died in separate rain-related incidents. A 35-year-old woman, Shashikala, who worked as housekeeping staff at IZMO Ltd. in Mahadevapura, was killed when a wall collapsed on her. The structure is believed to have weakened due to the overnight downpour.

Two others — 63-year-old Manmohan Kamath and 12-year-old Dinesh — were electrocuted while trying to pump water out of their flooded home in southern Bengaluru. Though both were rushed to hospital, doctors declared them dead on arrival.

Additional fatalities occurred in other parts of Karnataka. Officials confirmed that two people died in separate lightning incidents in Raichur and Karwar, raising the total death toll from the recent rains to five.

Bengaluru Weather: Tech corridors cut off, residents stranded
In the city’s tech zones near Manyata Tech Park and Silk Board Junction, residents were seen wading through knee-deep water. Vehicles were stranded across arterial roads, making movement nearly impossible.

Sai Layout resembled an island, with ground floors of houses half-submerged. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) provided food and water to stranded residents. Around 150 people were rescued and shifted to safer locations on Monday.

“Officials are on the field and attending to the issues caused by the downpour, and there is no need for anyone to worry,” said Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. “Irrespective of wherever we are, our duty is to save Bengaluru's pride, and we will do it.”

IMD Weather Alert: Rare storm patterns observed, more rain ahead
Meteorologists noted unusual thunderstorm activity moving west to east between Bidadi and Jigani — a rare occurrence typically associated with hybrid rains or the monsoon onset. The IMD has extended its rainfall alert until Sunday, May 25, and upgraded Bengaluru’s alert status to orange.

An upper air cyclonic circulation is expected to form over the east-central Arabian Sea around 21 May, which may intensify into a low-pressure area by 22 May, raising further rain concerns.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for 23 districts in Karnataka, including Bengaluru, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and wind speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Bengaluru civic response and government measures
Speaking on ongoing mitigation, DK Shivakumar said, “Seventy per cent of the 210 flood-prone areas identified in the city have been fixed,” adding that the remaining 30 per cent will be addressed soon. He noted that ₹2,000 crore is being spent to build 197 km of stormwater drains.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that Bengaluru had recorded 104 mm of rain on Monday — higher than anticipated. “We will provide ₹5 lakh compensation to the family of Shashikala,” he said.

Both the CM and DCM are scheduled to inspect rain-affected areas on May 21. Meanwhile, BJP MP PC Mohan urged IT companies to allow employees to work from home to reduce road congestion and safety risks.

In Assam, Guwahati witnessed overnight rains that flooded major roads and homes across areas like Zoo Road, Ganeshguri, and Chandmari. Water reached chest level in some places. Schools shut down and power cuts were reported. IMD predicted more heavy rainfall for the next 2–3 days in the state.

In Maharashtra, strong winds and heavy rains caused a large hoarding to collapse in Pune’s Sanaswadi area. While no injuries were reported, several parked two-wheelers were crushed under the structure.