Heavy rainfall in southern India has left Bengaluru, known as the ‘Silicon Valley,’ under water, posing a significant threat to tech giants and citizens alike.
Heavy rainfall in southern India has left the city of Bengaluru, often referred to as ‘Silicon Valley,’ under water. The city is on high alert for more pre-monsoon showers on Tuesday due to cyclonic formations over the Andaman Sea.
Large parts of the city received 100 mm (4in) of rain on Monday, a record since 2011. This rare weather event has caused severe water-logging and traffic disruptions, affecting daily life. Apart from property damage, flooded roads have also led to the collapse of a compound wall at an IT firm’s office, claiming the life of a 35-year-old female employee.
Bengaluru, India's silicon valley, is prone to severe flooding due to its geographical location.
Heavy rainfall in the surrounding catchment areas causes the water table to rise, leading to inundation of low-lying areas.
The city's rapid urbanization has exacerbated the problem, with inadequate drainage infrastructure and encroachment on water bodies contributing to the issue.
According to a study, Bengaluru experiences an average of 15 flood events per year, resulting in significant economic losses and displacement of residents.
Authorities claim to be working round the clock to address the situation, but officials are facing criticism on social media. Many users have expressed frustration with the city’s crumbling infrastructure and deluged roads. One user stated that no other city evokes fear and helplessness for commuting during rains like ‘Bangalore’.
Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is rapidly expanding its infrastructure to cater to its growing population.
The city has invested heavily in road development, with over 1,500 km of roads built or upgraded since '2014'.
Bengaluru's metro rail network has also expanded significantly, with new lines and stations added regularly.
Additionally, the city is investing in smart traffic management systems to reduce congestion.
According to a recent study, Bengaluru's infrastructure investment has created jobs for over 100,000 people and generated economic growth of ₹10,000 crores annually.
Experts point to a lack of coherent urban planning that respects environmental limits, as well as a lack of government accountability, as contributing factors to the crisis. A public policy expert, who has lived in the city for eight years, noted that newly developed areas face the worst flooding due to inadequate planning.
The situation has sparked a heated debate over infrastructure funding between the ruling Congress party and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has demanded an immediate release of 10 billion rupees ($117m, £87.5m) for relief operations, while the state government defends its spending on infrastructure as insufficient to address long-standing issues.
Floods have been a recurring phenomenon in Bengaluru in recent years, with experts attributing the crisis partly to rapid construction over the city’s lakes and wetlands. The Association for Information Technology (AIT) has called for long-term solutions to improve the city’s infrastructure, citing the need for better planning and investment.
The flooding poses a significant threat not only to businesses but also to citizens. An expert from the AIT warned that frequent flooding causes ‘discomfort and inconvenience‘ for businesses, highlighting the need for effective solutions to mitigate this issue. The city’s residents, including long-time resident Annu Itty, have expressed frustration with the situation, calling for greater accountability and investment in urban planning.
Despite criticism, authorities claim that they are working around the clock to address the flood situation. With more pre-monsoon showers predicted, residents remain on high alert as the city struggles to recover from the impact of heavy rainfall.
