The situation in several rain-battered parts of Bangalore largely remained the same on Tuesday, with waterlogged streets, homes and vehicles partially flooded, as torrential downpours battered the capital in the night of September 5. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has released forecasts for heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning in Karnataka.

Using boats and tractors to cross streets overwhelmed with office workers and school children was a common sight this morning in several parts of the city like Yemalur, Rainbow Drive layout, Sunny Brooks Layout and Marathahalli among several others.

“I came by tractor because the roads are all submerged in water, our vehicles are also under water…I have exams starting tomorrow, so I have to go to school,” said a girl dressed in a school uniform.

“The water hasn’t gone down because it rained again last night (Monday), in fact I feel like it has gone up. I have to go to the office, the kids have schools and I I kind of used a tractor today. Asking the government and the authorities to do something and restore normality,” said an office worker.

However, several private schools have declared holidays and switched to online teaching for a few days, while many offices have suggested employees work from home.

Most parts of the outer ring road, Sarjapur road, which houses some IT companies looked like lakes, affecting the movement of traffic.

Bikers pushing their stuck two-wheelers and pedestrians struggling to navigate knee-deep water were commonplace in some places.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who chaired a meeting of senior ministers and senior officials on Monday evening, said a decision had been taken to release Rs 300 crore to deal with the current rains situation as well as the maintenance of basic infrastructure in Bengaluru.

He also said that Rs 9.50 crore has been released to set up a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) company exclusively for Bengaluru and to supply the equipment.

On TK Halli pump station at Malavalli taluk of Mandya which pumps water from Cauvery in Bengaluru being affected due to overflow from Bheemeshwara river and water from surrounding lakes, the CM said the water from flood was drained, but it will take two days to drain the water from the Cauvery 3rd floor pumping station and resume work.

Noting that an alternative plan has been formulated for Bengaluru’s water supply, he said that around 8,000 boreholes are under the control of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and they would be restarted for provide water during disruption of water supply from Cauvery to areas.

Instructions have also been given to supply water from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) boreholes in areas where there has been an interruption in water supply due to rain, it said. – he added, adding that the water in the tankers will be supplied on behalf of the government in areas where there are no boreholes.

According to the CM, some areas of Bengaluru city received 150 percent more rain than normal between September 1 and September 5. Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and KRPuram recorded 307% excess rain.

“This is the highest rainfall in the past 42 years. All 164 reservoirs in Bengaluru are full to the brim,” he added.

Karnataka | Many IT company workers use tractors to get to their offices in the Yemalur area of ​​Bengaluru amid heavy rain congestion

We can’t take so many days off from the office, our work is affected. We are waiting for tractors to drop us off for Rs 50: Local https://t.co/vU7zRpDXAD pic.twitter.com/ApRI8xa1Qk

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2022

#LOOK | Residents struggle to get around as streets in the Yemalur area of ​​Bengaluru are severely congested following heavy rains in the city pic.twitter.com/wrHk1CO3p1

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2022

IMD issues alert in southern states of India

Meanwhile, IMD forecast heavy rain, lightning and thunderstorms in other southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Thursday (September 8) and Friday (September 9) respectively.

The coastal regions of Kerala, Telangana and Lakshadweep will also see ‘very heavy rains’ on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

(with PTI inputs)