Bengaluru Rains: Schools Shut, WFH for IT Firms Amid Orange Alert and Heavy Traffic Snarls

Bengaluru Rains: An orange alert has been issued in Karnataka's capital city Bengaluru on Wednesday after incessant rains since early Tuesday disrupted normal life in the city as well as other central and southern parts of the state, with several localities witnessing waterlogging and traffic congestion. With over six centimeters of rain, the silicon city's civic infrastructure struggled to cope as the heavy downpour flooded tech hubs like Manyata Tech Park, leaving employees stranded and drawing criticism for inadequate infrastructure. Meanwhile, a holiday has been declared for all schools including all taluk Anganwadi centres, private/aided primary and high schools of Bengaluru City as a precautionary measure for students. The Karnataka goverment has also issued a work-from-home advisory to IT-BT and private firms in Bengaluru for October 16.

Following the heavy rain forecast, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been deployed in the city while Fire and Emergency Services have been placed on standby for immediate response. "I have advised BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to be on high alert. We have already deployed about 60 NDRF/SDRF personnel in Bengaluru and redeploying another 40 to be on stand by for any necessity. We have put Fire and Emergency Services on stand by for immediate response," the Minister said in an online post.

Check All Latest Updates on Bengaluru Rains Here:

• "Let there be rain. There is a cyclone and we will manage the situation even if there are more rains, no issues. The government and the citizens have the strength to manage the situation. We will set things right, no issues, we will do it at the earliest," D K Shivakumar said.
• Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar advised people to take necessary precautions following incessant rains in the city, as he declared the government's preparedness to deal with the situation. He said the government has the "strength" to manage the situation and "set right" the issues that have cropped up due to the rains. "I appeal to citizens to take necessary precautions in the wake of the rains. There might be some traffic issues today," Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, said.
• Amid heavy rains, visuals of flooded roads and traffic snarls have surfaced from parts of Bengaluru

• BBMP officials have been instructed to be on high alert. In a virtual meeting held by BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, he advised all officials to stay prepared for any emergencies and to focus on flood-prone areas.
• "In light of the continuous heavy rains in Bengaluru and the orange alert issued by the Meteorological Department, we are prioritising the safety and well-being of all employees working in IT, BT, and private companies located in Bengaluru," the advisory issued by the Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society (KITS) stated. KITS operates under the Department of Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology of the Karnataka government.
• On Tuesday, motorists faced difficulties navigating through the city traffic due to the downpour as several roads in Varthur, Hebbal, Kadubeesanahalli, and surrounding areas were water-logged. Areas housing major technology companies like Manyata Tech Park on Outer Ring Road (ORR) and tech hubs like Sarjapur were among the affected.
• Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesha declared a holiday for schools and Anganwadis on Wednesday, October 16, while colleges will remain open. October 17 is a public holiday in observance of Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti.
• According to Traffic Police, gridlocks were reported on major roads including ORR, Tumakuru Road and Airport Road. Heavy waterlogging was also reported on Bellary Road at Hunsamaranahalli.
• In the wake of rains across Bengaluru, the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up 24X7 exclusive control rooms in its eight zones and also launched a helpline number (1533) to report rain-related problems. Meanwhile, the BBMP's disaster management team has cleared waterlogging under the Hebbal flyover, allowing vehicular movement.
• IMD has issued a yellow alert -- indicating worsening weather conditions that could disrupt daily life -- for the districts of Tumakuru, Mysuru, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kolar, Shivamogga and Chikkaballapura in addition to coastal Karnataka.
• India Meteorological Department officials said a low pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal was the trigger for the widespread rainfall. They said the arid regions of northern parts of the state would witness similar weather conditions in the next 24 hours. "This situation will prevail for the next three to four days," an official said.