Bengaluru: At Doddabidarakal rains breach lake, cause floods

Bengaluru: Residents of Tigalarapalya in Doddabidarakal ward woke up to flash flooding due to the heavy downpour and breach in the waste weir of Narasappanahalli lake on Thursday night. Just when the residents of the area about hit bed after a tiring day they were struck by flash floods throwing their life out of gear. Many vehicles got stranded on the road due to gushing waters.

While the BBMP authorities cry foul against the alleged encroachment of Storm Water Drain (SWD) and encroachment near lake’s waste weir the residents complained that Palike was not helpful in dealing with the overnight flooding woes.

Surrounding areas like Tigalarapalya in Doddabidarakal, Gangondanahalli, Gruhalakshmi Layout, Vinayakanagar, Prabhatnagar and other low lying areas were affected. Some of the houses build in low lying areas and under construction houses were marooned with overflowing water. Ganganna Achar, resident of Tigalarapalya said that the Narasammpanahalli lake was being developed by the Bengaluru Development Authority. Meanwhile, a petitioner allegedly obtained a stay on the ongoing lake rejuvenation work and blocked the area near waste weir. The lake had sufficient water due to rains in previous days, he said.

Repeated calls to the BBMP control room was of little help to the residents. Residents had to spend sleepless night scooping out and pumping out the water that had marooned the area, he added.

BBMP engineer Siddaraje Gowda told Deccan Chronicle that when the water was overflowing from the tank bund a few residents tried to open waste weir with the help of earth mover to allow the water to run off through the SWD. Since the SWD was encroached upon the it affected the water flow and flooded the road and some houses, he said. BBMP staff were sent to the spot on Friday.