Traffic movement in and around the city came to a halt as major arterial roads were choked. Apart from Hosur Road, the K.R. Puram–Tin Factory junction and the down ramp to Old Madras Road from K.R. Puram flyover came to a standstill.
“I should have taken a boat instead,” said a frustrated motorist who was stuck for hours trying to get to his office. It took hours for the junction to be cleared of the stagnant water that accumulated in the area. In a domino effect, this disrupted traffic towards the IT corridor and Whitefield.
More than 1,200 policemen, including senior police officers, were roped in to deal with the snarls since Friday morning, said Abhishek Goel, Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic east) said. There will be another 1,200 policemen would join for the second shift who would be working to ensure free flow of traffic, he added.
Traffic was affected in the Central Business Districts, including Bellary Road, Rajbhavan Road, in and around Majestic area, Mysuru Road, Town Hall, JC Road, Cubbon Road, MG Road, Brigade Junction , Richmond Road, Adugodi , Old Airport Road , KR Puram, Ramamurthy Nagar Pulakeshi Nagar and JC Nagar were the worst-hit areas.
R. Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of police (Traffic), said the incessant rains and inundation of crucial arterial roads had put the traffic in the city out of gears.
Compound wall caves in Seven vehicles including an autorickhaw, two cars and three public carrier were damaged when a huge compound wall belonging to defence residential layout collapsed in Sanjay Nagar, Marathahalli, on Friday morning.
Huge road side trees were uprooted near Columbia Hospital on Bellary Road , RV College, Naga Theater in Halasooru, Mysore Circle , Dr. Rajkumar Road , Indiranagar, Coles Park, JP Nagar, Koramangala and Katriguppe.
Over 100 fire and emergency service personnel , 30 personnel from State Disaster Response Team and over 100 Home Guards along with 15 fire tenders were deployed for the rescue operations mainly in and around Kodichikkanahalli, Shivashankar, Regional Fire Officer told The Hindu .
The rescue work started at 7 a.m. and continued till 7 p.m. with the personnel clearing blocks in storm water drain to allow water to flow.
“We have rescued 35 persons, including a pregnant woman and several senior citizens and a woman with knee problems along with pets (cats and dogs) from the apartments in Kodichikkanahalli area, which is the worst affected,” said a senior police officer.
