In yet another rain-induced mess, several school children in Bengaluru were rescued from stranded buses on Tuesday, as heavy rains flooded the Balagere Main Road in Mahadevapura. Whatโs even more shocking? This is the same road Chief Minister Siddaramaiah vowed to fix two years ago! ๐จ๐
๐ Tractors to the Rescue!
With buses breaking down while trying to navigate the waterlogged road, local residents had to step in to rescue the stranded children. Tractors became makeshift rescue vehicles, ferrying the kids home after hours of waiting. ๐ Some children were so stressed that they burst into tears ๐ข, but the community came together, offering them water, biscuits, and snacks to calm their nerves.
Flashback: Siddaramaiahโs 2022 Promise ๐ฌ
Hereโs the ironyโback in 2022, Siddaramaiah, then the opposition leader, visited this very road and promised to fix its chronic flooding problems. Fast forward two years, and nothing has changed. Despite being one of Bengaluruโs top taxpaying zonesโhome to major IT hubsโthe residents of Balagere are still stuck with waterlogged roads and poor infrastructure. ๐๏ธ๐ผ
๐๏ธ Where’s the Drainage?
The residents’ frustration is mounting. The BBMP (Bengaluru civic body) has been dragging its feet for four years, failing to complete a crucial stormwater drain project that could prevent the flooding. Rainwater from surrounding areas like Panathur and Bellandur collects on the low-lying Balagere Main Road, turning it into a river every monsoon. ๐ง๏ธ๐ง
More Rain On the Wayโฆ โ๏ธ
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the city, predicting heavy rainfall over the next few days. With 37 mm of rain in just 24 hours, itโs no wonder the cityโs infrastructure is struggling to keep up. In total, 142 complaints of rainwater entering homes were logged across Bengaluru on Tuesday alone. ๐ณ๐
๐ฌ Whatโs next for Bengaluru? Will Siddaramaiah step up and fix the mess once and for all, or will the tech city continue to drown every monsoon season? Letโs hope for the best! ๐ค