AT LEAST five people were killed in separate rain-related incidents on Tuesday in Bengaluru, which has been reeling under incessant rains for the past three days causing widespread flooding in several residential areas and turning roads into virtual rivers. While three labourers died in a building collapse after the downpour, two children drowned in Kengeri Lake and were trapped in the marsh, police sources added. Fourteen people were rescued from the building collapse site while three people are still missing, police sources said.

 

Authorities also declared a school holiday on Wednesday. Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were deployed to evacuate people from the flooded areas, including from Yelahanka, one of the worst-affected districts, with the help of coracles on Tuesday. According to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Yelahanka received 157 mm (six inches) of rain in just six hours. Kendriya Vihar in Yelahanka resembled a river with waist-deep water. As the rain-battered Bengaluru battled flooding, there were also reports of pothole-related incidents, triggering a public outcry. Opposition parties also attacked the ruling Congress for the situation.