Cyclone Fengal continues to bring rainfall to Bengaluru; schools closed in south interior Karnataka

Bengaluru inundated by cyclone Fengal, causing road closures, tree falls, and fear of flooding among residents and commuters.

Incessant rainfall lashing Bengaluru due to the impact of cyclone Fengal has resulted in the inundation of multiple roads, and tree falls causing inconvenience to residents and commuters. Residents in low-lying areas are in fear of flooding. 

Till 8:30 p.m. on Sunday (December 1, 2024), Bengaluru city received 19 mm of rainfall. The city has been receiving showers since Sunday morning and downpour has continued even on Monday (December 2, 2024) morning. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 20.4 degrees celsius which is 2.3 degrees lower than normal. According to the IMD, the city is expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall for the next 24 hours.

The data shared by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) shows that three trees have fallen and one branch fall reported so far. Trees have fallen in Jayanagara 4th block, Malleshwaram and one near the office of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 

A senior BBMP official said all the flood mitigation teams across the city are on standby. On Saturday, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath directed the officials to prepare to handle any flood situation arising from cyclone Fengal. 

The commuters returning to Bengaluru after spending the weekend were stuck in traffic on Mysuru road, Tumakuru road, NICE road and other stretches. Rakesh S., who was travelling from Hosadurga in Chitradurga district to Bengaluru on Sunday evening, said he covered about 182 km in two and a half hours, but to travel 67 km from Nelamangala toll to his house it took another two and half hours. Due to rain, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic even on the NICE road as vehicles were moving slowly.

On Monday morning due to inundation the office-goers faced inconvenience. Waterlogging was reported at Panathur underbridge, Outer Ring Road, Bannerghatta road, stretches of Kanakapura road, Doddanekundi village road. Even before the start of peak hour traffic piled up due to inundation. 

The Deputy Commissioners of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Shipa Nag have announced the closure of all schools and colleges in the two districts on December 2 on account of the rains. But this does not apply to degree colleges in Chamarajanagar Shipa Nag that were holding examinations.