Tue Oct 15 09:22:39 UTC 2024: ## Bengaluru Braces for Heavy Rains, Traffic Chaos Engulfs City
**Bengaluru, October 15, 2024:** Heavy rainfall since the early hours of Tuesday has brought Bengaluru to a standstill, with major roads inundated and traffic moving at a snail’s pace.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) issued advisories for several areas experiencing severe congestion, including Mahadevapura, Marathahalli, Seshadripuram, Sanjay Nagar, Hunasemaranahalli, Hebbal flyover, Outer Ring Road (ORR), and Bannerghatta Road.
The road near Sakra hospital and the railway underbridge at Panathur were particularly affected, leading to slow traffic movement. A stretch of the Outer Ring Road was also waterlogged.
Commuters travelling to offices, schools, and colleges faced delays of 30-40 minutes in areas like Kengeri, Mysuru Road, Sarakki, J.P. Nagar, Goraguntepalya, and Hebbal. The IT corridor in Whitefield, Bellandur, Silk Board, and multiple points on the Outer Ring Road also experienced severe congestion.
Many commuters demanded that companies provide work-from-home options due to the heavy rains and resulting traffic chaos. Several two-wheeler owners opted to work from home, while others faced exorbitant cab fares and long waiting times.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the rainfall will continue throughout the day. While no flooding has been reported from residential areas, residents in several layouts remain concerned about potential flooding as the situation continues to evolve.
The BBMP has deployed disaster management and zone-level teams to handle the situation. However, the rains could disrupt the first India-New Zealand Test, which is scheduled to begin on October 16, 2024, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Both teams were forced to cancel their training sessions due to the heavy downpour.
First Piper 