Damage caused by Sunday’s showers hits residents where it hurts

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Sunday’s deluge in the city will be one to remember as it was reportedly the wettest day in June in more than a hundred years.

The city saw 206 trees getting uprooted in the gusty winds with the heavy rainfall damaging public and private property, in addition to forcing long power disruptions. The South Zone of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) saw the most number of trees falling on roads at 99 trees.

Several sub-arterial and ward level roads were blocked for hours because of this. On 10th main road, Jayanagar East in Ward 169 Byrasandra, two adjacent trees fell on the road and a house. “Most of the trees have healthy canopies, it's the roots that have become weak.

Concretisation around the trees has resulted in weak roots,” explained a roadside vendor. The tree that fell on the house, damaged a few roof tiles according to security guards.

“The owner has stepped out at that point,” said a guard. For Hanumanth Nagar police, it proved to be a long night with an uprooted tree falling and damaging a 20 feet long compound wall.

“Thankfully, nothing happened to the electricity feeder and transformer,” said Ravi, the station writer. Power, which was cut at 8.30 pm on Sunday, was restored only at 10 am the next morning. The area also saw an electric pole fall on an apartment complex.

“It was a result of a tree falling on it soon after which was cut,” said Sandeep who resides nearby. A two wheeler suffered minor damages, according to the resident. According to posts on X, water from drains entered the homes of 244 families in Vinobha Jaibheem Nagar, and Jolly Mohalla near KR Market rising to two feet in height.

The posts claim that families lost their rations, school bags, books and blankets. A man was pictured with blood on his head after the branch of a tree on Pipeline road in Vijayanagar fell on him.

Over 15 trees, young and old have fallen inside Cubbon Park, according to Umesh Kumar, the Walkers’ association’s president.

The Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an Orange Alert for the upcoming days. Meanwhile, citizens have lashed out at the lack of preparedness on the part of civic authorities.