Bengaluru Drenched: City's Tech Hub Crippled by Heavy Rainfall

Bengaluru, India's tech hub, faced massive disruptions as the city was hit by the heaviest rainfall in nearly three decades. The rain caused flooding, road blockages, and structural damage, raising serious concerns about the city's infrastructure and unplanned development. Residents and companies resorted to remote operations amid the chaos.

In Bengaluru, India's esteemed tech hub, the heaviest rains in nearly three decades have brought daily life to a standstill, underscoring the city's longstanding infrastructure challenges. Schools were shuttered, and people resorted to working from home as the city grappled with 186 mm of rainfall in a single day, the highest since 1997.

This deluge has reignited debates about the unchecked development within Bengaluru, often referred to as India's Silicon Valley. The city, home to global giants like Walmart and Google, remains vulnerable to floods due to its dated and overwhelmed drainage systems, which received twice the average rainfall this month.

Amid the chaos, tragic incidents, including the collapse of an under-construction building, have raised alarms about civic planning. Many are calling for immediate action to combat blockages in stormwater drains, exacerbated by structures built over former lakes. The local government is encouraging work-from-home policies as rains persist.

(With inputs from agencies.)