50 Year high floods in Bangalore
Source : Indian Express, Wednesday, October 26, 2005.
BANGALORE, OCTOBER 25: Hours before its annual IT mega show, Bangalore IT.IN 2005, heavy rains lashed the city—for the fourth day in a row—leading to five deaths and heavy flooding of roads.
With rainfall breaking the 50-year-old October record of 52.2 cm, many low-lying areas here—including some upscale localities—were flooded. ‘‘Over 54 houses were reported to have collapsed and 100 damaged,'' said Police Commissioner K Jothiramalingam. Mayor R Narayanaswamy said that affected families are being provided with food, shelter and blankets.
Struggling to cope, the state government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges here, even though officials of the global IT show said the event would proceed as planned.
Chief Minister N Dharam Singh has announced that the government would submit a report to the Centre highlighting the damages caused by the rains and seeking adequate relief. He has convened a meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday to assess the damages.
Today, the CM, accompanied by Water Resources Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge and others, assessed the damages across the state, especially in Mandya district. Widespread destruction has been reported from across the state, including roads, bridges, tanks and crops in Mandya, Mysore, Kolar, Hassan and Chamarajnagar districts.
Meteorological Centre Director A L Koppar confirmed that the heavy rains have surpassed the earlier record of 1956. ‘‘The city is likely to receive over 70 mm rainfall during the next one week, thus creating a historic record of being the wettest month ever.''
Bangalore is likely to experience more rain during the next 48 hours as the low pressure area over the South-West Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast has moved closer to Bangalore, he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka IT Secretary M K Shankaralinga Gowda said that the IT show will proceed as planned at the Palace Grounds here.