Bengaluru rains: ORR, Electronics City sink; city traffic paralysed by monsoon misery

Multiple long spells of rain on Thursday (October 9, 2025) evening brought traffic to a halt and flooded several parts of Bengaluru, once again highlighting the city’s fragile infrastructure and poor drainage network.

In areas such as HSR Layout and Electronics City, roads were submerged within minutes of rainfall, with vehicles navigating knee-deep water. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said that most parts of Bengaluru Urban and adjoining districts received light to moderate rain.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall recorded on October 9 evening was 5.1 mm at HAL Airport, 3.6 mm at Kempegowda International Airport, and 9.5 mm at the KSNDMC campus. 

ORR worst affected

The Outer Ring Road (ORR), one of the city’s busiest corridors and home to several IT companies, was among the worst affected. Heavy traffic was reported between Kadubeesanahalli and Doddanekundi, with motorists reporting that they spent over an hour covering short distances. Authorities advised commuters to take alternative routes, but congestion persisted through the evening.

Flooding was also reported on the Electronics City Flyover, where vehicles moved slowly through waterlogged stretches. Commuters expressed frustration over recurring issues despite repeated assurances from civic authorities and recent toll hikes. 

“Every government has done its bit to ruin Bengaluru,” said a frustrated commuter who took to X to share his ordeal via his handle @bhatdaalchokha. “Don’t blame the people who came here for jobs — blame the corrupt municipality and politicians who allowed this mess to fester.”

Traffic police issued multiple advisories through the evening as waterlogging disrupted movement across major junctions, including Madivala, Silk Board, and Agara. 

Trees uprooted, power supply cut

Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) reported at least five cases of trees being uprooted and 10 incidents of branch snapping, leading to temporary power outages in some neighbourhoods.

Residents and civic observers said the repeated flooding in many neighbourhoods pointed to larger structural problems, including encroachment of stormwater drains and poor maintenance of existing infrastructure. “Even a short shower is enough to flood our roads,” said a resident of HSR Layout. “It’s not just about rain; it’s about years of neglect.”

The IMD forecast generally cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers for Friday (October 10, 2025).