Heavy downpour brings Bangalore to standstill

Heavy downpour with strong surface winds for over three-four hours late Saturday flooded all roads and low-laying areas across the city, disrupting normal life and bringing vehicular traffic to standstill.

"A deep depression from Lakshwadeep with high velocity winds has led to heavy formation of clouds and winds with high velocity are reasons for the sudden downpour," Bangalore meteorology department director B. Puttanna told IANS.

Though it was a weekend holiday for techies, thousands of people who were out for shopping or other engagements were caught unawares as heavy rains lashed several localities of the city from 8 to 11 p.m.

"We have recorded about 90 mm rains in and around the city during the last four hours due to the sudden downpour with lightning," Puttanna said.

With the drainage system in several areas blocked with silt and waste, rain water was overflowing across thoroughfares and service roads.

Hundreds of commuters in the city and outbound passengers were stranded en route to the inter-state bus terminal, railway stations and the international airport at Devanahalli, about 40 km away from the city.

Contrary to the forecast of a cloudy sky, rain or thundershowers, the met office gave for the day, the sky was overcast since evening and opened up with thunder and lightning.

"Considerable decrease in the rain after 11 p.m, however, led to traffic snarls across the city, as hundreds of vehicles, including cars and state-run buses were stranded in the middle of roads, traffic junctions and signal points," a traffic inspector said.

Cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rain is predicted across the south interior areas of the state, including the city over the next two days due to the depression and easterly winds.