‘Every time it rains…’: Bengaluru man recounts how his wife narrowly escaped death after hitting waterlogged pothole

The user said the 3-km stretch usually takes 40 minutes, but rain and traffic chaos on the ORR made it unbearable and caused severe delays.

Updated on: Oct 15, 2025, 16:50:24 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

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A Bengaluru resident took to Reddit to put spotlight on the perilous conditions on Varthur Main Road following recent rainfall. According to the user, heavy drizzle turned the stretch near Varthur Police Station into a “treacherous river.”

According to the user, heavy drizzle turned the stretch near Varthur Police Station into a “treacherous river.” (Representational Image)

The user explained that even on a normal day, the 3-kilometre road takes about 40 minutes to navigate, but yesterday’s rain combined with traffic chaos on the Outer Ring Road made the situation unbearable.

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His spouse was stuck in crawling traffic for over two hours and nearly faced a serious accident after misjudging a puddle that concealed a deep pothole. She narrowly avoided losing her balance and being hit by a bus following closely behind.

Varthur Roads: Every time it rains, I pray for my family's safety.
byu/vijayvithal inbangalore

Shaken by the incident, she had to take the following day off work. The Reddit user expressed frustration over repeated complaints about the poor road conditions that are ignored or patched up poorly.

‘’ She has taken the day off today, shaken and haunted by her near brush with death. Like many others we stay in Bangalore due to job and educational commitments, I have raised multiple complaints which have either been ignored or have resulted in shoddy repairs. Not sure how long we can take this indifference from the government, ‘’ the post read.

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Here’s how social media reacted

‘’ Its hightime we partake in civic body elections, I believe the stretch from ORR to Whitefield is neglected as we don't matter for votes. I've learnt my lesson and would definitely be exercising my vote,’’ a frustrated user said.

‘’ Same issue with Varthur, worse decision to come and live in this part of the city. Its pretty shocking how a city like Bengaluru has become a golden goose and left to die,’’ a second user wrote.

Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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