Monsoon on replay
Strap: Flooded streets, stalled lives — citizens speak out on why monsoon in Bangalore feels like a crisis on loop
Byline: Bindu Gopal Rao
Red. Yellow. Orange. This monsoon, these aren’t just colours on a palette — they’re warnings from the weatherman, painting Bangalore’s skies with rain alerts. As several parts of the city grapple with waterlogging yet again, the scenes feel all too familiar — a soggy script that plays on repeat each year.
Once known for its rain-kissed charm, Bangalore now flinches at the first rumble of thunder. The poetry of monsoon — of misty mornings and steaming chai — has faded into the anxiety of flooded streets, stalled traffic, and the looming fear of mishaps every time one steps out.
Against this background we speak to residents about how the city has changed over time — and why its monsoon miseries refuse to end.
‘We vote; we pay tax—but still we wade’
Fraser Town, Richards Park, Cooke Town — this whole part of Bangalore was once among the city’s most beautiful, balanced, and liveable areas. Wide roads, old trees, heritage homes — it had real character. But in the last decade, we’ve traded all that for chaotic construction and poor planning. People gave up independent homes for apartments, but the neighbourhood was never built to support that kind of density. Roads are dug up and relaid constantly — sometimes more than once — and often left half-finished. There’s no proper rainwater drainage, the sewage system is broken, and every time it rains, it’s the same nightmare. We pay taxes. We vote. And we’re still wading through knee-deep water to get home. That’s not progress — that’s just expensive neglect.”
Chaitali Pishay Roy, Founder, CPR Global
‘Welcoming streets are drowning now’
The Bangalore I grew up in feels like a distant memory. My family lived in and around Sarakki and JP Nagar for over 30 years, but in the last 15, the neighbourhood has changed beyond recognition. What were once welcoming streets have become flood zones — even a short spell of rain sends water pouring into homes. I still remember approaching the local MLA once, only to be asked, ‘Did you even vote for us?’ It was infuriating. An area once filled with senior citizens slowly became unliveable. After my house flooded three times, I had no choice but to move into a high-rise. The government’s lack of accountability is deeply disappointing. I don’t live there anymore, but my wish is simple – we must do better. Bangalore deserves better.
G Sharadamba, Retired Teacher
‘Monsoon, once a season of joy now brings anxiety’
Ten years ago, Whitefield felt like a suburban escape — manageable roads, tolerable traffic, and rains that didn’t bring the city to a standstill. Today, it’s a different story. During the monsoon, a 30-minute commute often stretches to over an hour and a half. Areas like Ajagondanahalli, Kotur, Chanasandra, and Varthur routinely flood, trapping vehicles and overwhelming pedestrians. It’s especially distressing for young children heading to school and the elderly who depend on timely medical care or transport. As someone running two schools in the heart of Whitefield, I see the toll it takes on students and families every day. What was once a season of joy now brings anxiety — with delays, drenched mornings, and tired little faces arriving at school.
Usha Iyer, Edupreneur
‘My commute deserves a gallantry award’
Every morning, as a weary commuter to Electronic City, I gear up not just for work — but for the Silk Board obstacle course. Armed with a raincoat, patience, and existential dread, I wade through a junction that morphs into mini-Venice with every drizzle. Forget potholes — these are urban lakes. Bangalore’s ‘Silicon Valley’ charm drowns in ankle-deep irony. Stormwater drains? Either missing or clogged with relics from 1998. Water, like my career ambitions, has nowhere to go. The rajakaluves have vanished into someone’s backyard — or lost their way to the lake. Throw in Metro construction and you’ve got gridlock, chaos, and the sweet symphony of honking. Civic bodies pass the blame baton: BBMP blames BDA, BDA blames BWSSB, and I blame myself for not picking a job in another city. By the time I reach work — drenched and defeated — I’ve already completed my first full-time job: surviving Silk Board. Electronic City may power India’s tech dreams, but first, it tests your will to live — one soggy commute at a time.
Comrade S R Sridhar (Retd.)
‘Basavanagar feels like a disaster waiting to happen’
Ten years ago, Basavanagar Main Road was a smooth, flood-free stretch — a pleasure to drive on. Today, it’s one of the most vulnerable areas this monsoon. Large portions of the road have been dug up, leading to severe waterlogging and crater-sized potholes that only worsen with the rain. What makes it more dangerous is that these potholes fill up during heavy showers, becoming invisible to commuters and posing serious risks. The area feels like a disaster waiting to happen. Immediate action is needed from the BBMP to address the waterlogging and repair the damaged stretches before it’s too late.
Mythili G Nirvan, Bangalorean
‘It’s time for real solutions’
Koramangala remains largely unchanged after 16 years, and the dreaded Dairy Circle is still a nightmare during the rains. Back in college, commuting just 3 km from Christ University often took over an hour due to severe waterlogging. Today, little has improved. Despite grand infrastructure projects, road excavations and blocked drains continue to plague the area. It’s time for real solutions — prioritised infrastructure investment, sustainable flood management, and civic accountability — to end this recurring chaos once and for all.
Michelle Khiangte, Senior Account Head
‘Banashankari can’t breathe anymore’
Over the past decade, Banashankari Signal has been grappling with increased flooding and traffic disruptions even during moderate rains. Once a manageable junction with functional stormwater drains, the area now struggles under the weight of high-rise developments, commercial complexes, and ongoing metro construction. Encroachments and poor maintenance of rajakaluves have led to frequent blockages, causing waterlogging of 1–2 feet during just 20–30 mm/hr rainfall. This routinely strands vehicles, triggers severe congestion, and causes spillovers into adjoining localities like Jayanagar and Kanakapura Road. The unchecked concretisation has further reduced groundwater absorption, worsening surface runoff. To address these challenges, targeted infrastructure upgrades are crucial — including drain remodelling based on approved designs, the use of percolation-friendly materials like stone revetments, and the restoration of lakes using secondary treated and rainwater.
- Mruthyunjaya Swamy, Chairman