The recent rains in Bangalore have caused major problems for the people and the city. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has said that the city suffered a loss of ₹198 crore due to the heavy rainfall. This means the city lost a very big amount of money because of damage to roads and other public places. Many roads are now broken and full of potholes. Water entered many areas and homes. These rains also showed that the city was not fully prepared for such heavy rains. People are angry because the damage could have been reduced with better planning.
Many roads in the city have been badly damaged. According to BBMP, over 343 kilometers of roads were affected. This means hundreds of roads in the city have cracks, potholes, or are completely broken. Some roads are so bad that vehicles cannot move properly. Water logging made the roads even worse. When it rains, the water stays on the road for a long time and damages it more. BBMP says they will need a lot of time and money to repair everything. People are now facing problems traveling, going to work, or even walking in their own areas.
Along with damaged roads, there were also reports of floods in many parts of Bangalore. The heavy rains caused water to collect in streets, markets, and even homes. Drains were blocked and water had nowhere to go. This made the flooding worse. People had to remove water from their houses using buckets. Some families lost their belongings because water entered their rooms. Poor drainage systems made the situation more serious. Many areas like Koramangala, HSR Layout, and Bellandur faced very bad flooding. People stayed indoors because it was not safe to go outside due to the water everywhere.
The BBMP has said that they identified 878 damaged road stretches that need urgent repair. This means there are 878 parts of roads that are so bad, they need to be fixed quickly. These stretches are found across all parts of the city. BBMP will have to plan how to fix them one by one. But this work will take time. They also need to check the quality of the materials used earlier. If the materials were not strong, the roads will break again in the next rain. Many believe that this damage is also because of poor construction in the past.
This situation has made people ask many questions about how BBMP works. People are saying that the city did not plan well for the monsoon. Every year, rains cause the same problems. Roads break, drains overflow, and houses flood. But BBMP has not taken enough steps to stop this from happening again. Citizens are frustrated and say they pay taxes, but do not get good services. Many feel that money is being wasted because roads are built quickly and poorly. Once the rain comes, they break again. People want BBMP to take stronger actions and improve the quality of all the work.
Experts have said that the rains did not cause all the problems. They say that poor drainage and bad planning are the main reasons why the city suffered so much. Many storm water drains are blocked with garbage. Construction work is going on everywhere, but waste from this work is not removed. This waste blocks drains and water cannot flow out. Trees are also being cut, which makes things worse. Without trees, water does not get absorbed into the soil. Instead, it flows on the road and causes floods. Experts believe better planning and regular cleaning of drains can prevent such damage.
The rain also affected normal life in the city. People could not go to offices, schools, or markets. Traffic jams were very common because many roads were flooded or broken. Two-wheelers slipped on wet roads. Cars got stuck in water. Emergency vehicles like ambulances found it hard to move fast. Many delivery services were also delayed. People could not get food or medicine on time. Electricity went off in many areas for hours. Some mobile networks also stopped working for a while. Life became very hard for many families. The rain turned daily life into a big struggle.
Shopkeepers and business owners also suffered due to the rain. Shops in flooded areas had to close for many days. Water entered their shops and damaged goods. Some people lost their stock of clothes, electronics, or groceries. Small shops that sell tea, snacks, or vegetables also had to stop their work. Their daily income was lost. Restaurants had fewer customers because people did not want to go out in the rain. Many people also canceled bookings for parties or meetings. Overall, many people lost money and business because of the rain and the problems it caused across the city.
BBMP now has a big responsibility. They have to repair the damaged roads and clear the blocked drains. They have to make sure that the same thing does not happen again. Many people want BBMP to make better roads that do not break easily. They also want the drains to be cleaned regularly. BBMP has said they will use the ₹198 crore to fix the problems, but people are watching closely. In the past, money was spent but the work was not good. Citizens are now asking for proper checks and more transparency in how the money is used.
The BBMP has started some repair work, but progress is slow. The city is large, and the number of damaged roads is very high. Workers are trying to fill potholes and fix small cracks. But heavy traffic is making it difficult to finish the work fast. In some places, they had to dig up entire roads to build them again. This is taking more time and causing traffic jams. BBMP says they are using better materials this time, so the roads will last longer. However, people are worried that the same problems will return if proper care is not taken this time.
People have also asked for strong action against contractors who made poor quality roads. If a road breaks after just one rain, it shows that the construction was not good. Citizens believe that some contractors use cheap materials to save money. This causes the road to break easily. They want BBMP to take action against such contractors and blacklist them. BBMP has said they will look into it. Some officers may also be questioned if they approved bad work. The public wants responsibility to be fixed and does not want the same mistakes to happen again.
Citizens’ groups and local residents are also joining hands to raise their voices. They are holding meetings, writing letters, and posting on social media about the problems. Many people are sharing photos and videos of broken roads, flooded streets, and damaged buildings. These posts are going viral and reaching top officials. Some areas have also started small clean-up drives to remove garbage from drains. People are showing that they are ready to help, but they need strong support from the government. This shows that the people of Bangalore care about their city and want it to become better.
Environmentalists have said that the city must also look at long-term solutions. Fixing roads and cleaning drains is important, but the city also needs to plan better for the future. Climate change is making rains stronger and more sudden. Cities like Bangalore must be ready for this. Green spaces like parks, lakes, and gardens must be protected. These areas help absorb water and prevent floods. Building over every open space will make things worse. Rainwater harvesting should be promoted in all buildings. If people collect rainwater, it will reduce the pressure on drains and help prevent future flooding.
Some parts of Bangalore have better drainage systems and suffered less damage. These areas planned well in the past and made sure their drains were cleaned before the rains started. This shows that proper planning can reduce damage. BBMP should learn from such areas and use the same ideas across the city. Local leaders and engineers must work together and share good practices. They should also take feedback from residents who know their areas best. Good planning, teamwork, and regular maintenance are the key things that can help the city during heavy rains in the future.
The ₹198 crore loss is a very big number, and this money could have been used for schools, hospitals, or other important projects. When money is spent again and again on the same roads, it is a waste. People are asking for better use of public money. BBMP has to plan smartly and make sure every rupee is used properly. They should not wait for disasters to happen. Instead, they should work all year to prevent problems. If proper work is done before the monsoon, the city will be safe and people will not have to suffer during the rains.
The problems faced by Bangalore during this rain show a bigger issue. Many cities in India are growing fast but do not have strong systems to handle heavy rain. Roads, drains, and buildings are made quickly but not always with good planning. If one rain can cause such big losses, it means we must change the way we build and plan our cities. Bangalore is an important city, and it must lead by example. If it improves its planning, other cities can learn from it. This can help protect people, save money, and build stronger cities for the future.
The people of Bangalore have gone through a very tough time during these rains. They have lost time, money, and comfort. They are asking for better services and better planning. BBMP has a chance to listen, act, and improve. If they take the right steps now, the city can become safer and stronger. But if they ignore the lessons from this rain, the same problems will come back again. The future of the city depends on what decisions are made today. With the right efforts, Bangalore can become a model city that handles rain better and protects all its people.