Authorities bring in disaster response teams in Bengaluru after heavy rain alert: Report

Bengaluru faces disruption from heavy rainfall, prompting alerts and mobilization of disaster response teams.

Published on: Oct 16, 2024, 12:22:41 IST

By Yamini C S

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Bengaluru is on alert after continuous rainfall has disrupted daily life, leading to waterlogged streets and severe traffic jams. In the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am Wednesday, the city recorded 66.1 mm of rainfall, according to officials, the Deccan Herald reported.

Commuters wade through a flooded road following heavy rainfall in Bengaluru on October 15, 2024. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP) (AFP)

With more heavy rain expected, the National and Karnataka State Disaster Response Forces have been mobilized. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda confirmed that 60 personnel are already on the ground, with an additional 40 on standby for emergencies, the report stated. Fire and Emergency Services are also prepared to respond quickly to any incidents.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rains across Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, including coastal and interior regions, until October 18. Overcast skies are expected to persist for the next few days.

As a precaution, schools in Bengaluru Urban district remained closed on Wednesday. Several IT, biotech, and private firms have also advised their employees to work from home due to potential disruptions caused by flooding and traffic congestion.

Furthermore, Bengaluru Metro services were temporarily impacted on the purple line after a tree blocked the tracks, but the issue was swiftly resolved by the maintenance team.

While the threat of extreme weather has eased, light to moderate rains are still expected throughout the day. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up control rooms in all eight city zones and has activated a 24/7 helpline (1533) for residents to report rain-related issues, the publication added.

Residents are advised to stay cautious and monitor updates as the weather system continues to move.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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