Tue Oct 15 16:01:36 UTC 2024: ## Bengaluru Batters Through Heavy Rains, Schools Closed, Tech Workers Told to Work from Home

**Bengaluru, October 15, 2024:** Heavy rains continue to lash Bengaluru, prompting the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for the city. In response, the Karnataka government has declared a holiday for schools on Wednesday, October 16, and advised tech companies to allow their employees to work from home. Colleges and universities will remain open, but college principals have been instructed to follow safety guidelines to ensure student protection.

The incessant rainfall, which began early Tuesday morning, has led to widespread waterlogging and traffic jams across Bengaluru. Several areas, including Manyata Tech Park, Varthur, Hebbal, Kadubeesanahalli, and surrounding areas, have been severely affected. Videos of flooded roads inside Manyata Tech Park, a major tech hub, went viral on social media.

The city’s traffic police reported gridlocks on major roads including the Outer Ring Road (ORR), Tumakuru Road, and Airport Road. Motorists are advised to plan their travel accordingly and use alternate routes, especially those traveling towards the airport.

The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for several districts in Karnataka, including Tumakuru, Mysuru, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kolar, Shivamogga, Chikkaballapura, and coastal Karnataka. The agency predicts gloomy skies and showers for Bengaluru from October 14 to 17.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has assured residents that its flood management team is operational and ready to address any situation. BBMP officials have been instructed to be on high alert, focusing particularly on flood-prone areas.

The city’s Marathalli Weather Union gauge has recorded 42.6mm of rainfall since midnight, bringing the total rainfall for October to 72mm.

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