Bengaluru, Apr 30 (BNP): Torrential rain and hailstorm lashed Bengaluru over the past 24 hours, leaving at least eight people dead and causing widespread flooding, severe traffic disruption, and infrastructure damage across the city.
The worst tragedy occurred on Wednesday evening when a compound wall of an adjoining building near Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute collapsed during the downpour, killing seven people, including a child, and injuring several others.
According to officials, roadside vendors and pedestrians had taken shelter near the wall to escape the heavy rain when the structure suddenly gave way, trapping multiple people under the debris. Rescue teams, police personnel, and emergency services rushed to the site and launched immediate relief operations.
Large parts of Bengaluru remained waterlogged as continuous rain submerged roads and residential areas, with several streets resembling rivers. In many localities, waist-deep water disrupted normal life, stranded commuters, and caused major traffic snarls.
Senior state leaders, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, visited the collapse site and reviewed rescue and relief efforts. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine whether structural weakness, poor maintenance, or waterlogging contributed to the collapse.
Civic officials said emergency teams are on alert as more rainfall is forecast, while residents have been advised to avoid vulnerable areas and waterlogged zones.
The incident has renewed concerns over urban infrastructure preparedness and drainage management in Bengaluru during extreme weather events.
