Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, stated on Monday that his administration would provide $300 million to help with the flooding in Bengaluru, the state’s capital, as severe rainstorms continue to batter the area and inundate various areas. The statement was made after a meeting with senior ministers and officials was presided over by the chief minister to assess the flood situation in the southern state and the damage it caused, according to news agency PTI.
According to Bommai, the released funds would be used to repair various types of infrastructure, including roads, electric poles, transformers, and schools. The chief minister added that a total of 1,500 crore had been set aside for Bengaluru’s storm water drainage system construction. He stated that once the standing water stops, the construction will start.According to Bommai, the state government has decided to add one company to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) specifically for Bengaluru, which has been hardest hit by the state’s torrential rains. Additionally, $9.50 crore is being made available for boats and other equipment for the SDRF.
Two other SDRF firms would be founded at the state level in the coming days, the CM stated.
According to Bommai, rainfall in some areas of Bengaluru increased by 150% between September 1 and September 5, while it increased by 307% in other areas, including Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, and KR Puram. The CM said that 164 lakes in India’s Silicon Valley have been filled with water, and that this is the most rain Bengaluru has seen in 32 years (1992–1993). On Monday, boats, tractors, and even earth movers were used to remove residents of various city neighbourhoods from their houses. Tractors and boats were used to transport students and office workers in the morning in several neighbourhoods, including Sunny Brooks Layout and Rainbow Drive Layout, among others, due to the waterlogging.The Outer Ring Road (ORR) was interrupted by traffic in several places where it resembled a lake.Social media was swamped with images and videos of the city’s submerged highways, as well as stories from various residents about how difficult it was to deal with the flooding.