Heavy rainfall forecast for Bengaluru as flooding disrupts daily life

Bengaluru is bracing for very heavy rainfall, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has warned that overcast conditions are likely to persist in the city until October 18.
The IMD forecast also indicated isolated heavy rain for several other districts, including Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davangere, and Tumakuru, on Thursday, October 17.
As a result of the incessant rainfall in the city, the civic body and traffic personnel in Bengaluru are working tirelessly to address stagnant water and vehicular congestion in the city’s affected areas. Disaster response teams have been deployed across the region, particularly after torrential rains on Tuesday led to significant flooding.
The unrelenting downpour also disrupted the opening day of the Test match between India and New Zealand, as wet conditions forced the cancellation of play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed confidence in the government’s ability to manage the situation and address the challenges posed by the rains.
In addition to the civic response, the South Western Railway has cancelled several trains due to waterlogging over tracks, affecting services on the up-fast line between Basin Bridge Junction and Vyasarpadi stations in Chennai. Personnel from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are actively working to clear inundated areas, including Silver County Road near Haralur, which has restored smoother vehicle movement.
BBMP officials reported deploying tractors to assist residents of the Kendriya Vihar apartment complex in Yelahanka, which was severely affected by floodwaters. The BBMP has established 24/7 control rooms in its eight zones and launched a helpline number (1533) to address rain-related issues.
Meanwhile, schools in the Bengaluru Urban district remained closed, and many IT and biotech companies have allowed employees to work from home amid the adverse weather. Videos circulating on social media depicted inundated roads inside Manyata Tech Park, which houses several major tech firms, highlighting the extent of the flooding.
In the last 24 hours, Bengaluru recorded 66.1 mm of rainfall, further exacerbating the city’s waterlogging issues. Metro services on the purple line faced brief disruptions due to a tree obstruction, though the maintenance team quickly resolved the issue.
Looking ahead, the IMD has issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall across Bengaluru and neighbouring districts, emphasising that residents should remain vigilant as conditions are expected to remain unsettled for the coming days.