But a sudden spell of heavy rain hit Bengaluru residents who were caught by the sudden onset of heavy rains late on Saturday afternoon, disrupting weekend plans and causing severe traffic congestion across several parts of the city.
Many popular areas in the heart of Bengaluru, like Majestic, Malleswaram, Rajajinagar, Vijayanagar, Vasanthanagar, Palace Guttahalli, Cottonpet, Corporation Circle, Chikkapete, and Gandhinagar, were hit with heavy rainfall. The roads in those areas were flooded with water, blocking the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, and many people were stranded in traffic.
As soon as it began to rain, thousands of two-wheeler riders and pedestrians rushed for shelter. People fled to flyovers, bus stops, and Namma Metro stations to escape from the rain. Vehicles parked in these structures reduced the road space and caused traffic jams in some of the busiest parts of the city.
Commercial centres such as Chikkapete and the Majestic market area were also disrupted. Street vendors and small traders ran to shelter from the rain, while shoppers rushed indoors to escape the rain. Traffic was slow as vehicles had to navigate waterlogged roads and poor visibility.
The heavy rainfall comes as the southwest monsoon continues to strengthen in Karnataka. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the monsoon entered some parts of Coastal Karnataka, Malnad, and South Interior Karnataka on June 5. The monsoon is expected to spread to the rest of the state in two to three days.
Rainfall activity in Karnataka is expected to increase from June 6 to June 11. Coastal areas are expected to experience heavy rainfall during this time, with some areas likely to receive heavy rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.4 mm and very heavy rainfall between 115.5 mm and 204.4 mm. The coastal region has been issued an Orange Alert due to the risk of flash floods and urban flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
The Malnad region, including Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Kodagu, and Hassan districts, is also expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall until June 11. Weather experts have predicted that some places in these districts may experience particularly intense rainfall between June 6 and June 10.
In North Interior Karnataka, widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected, accompanied by thunderstorms and isolated heavy showers until June 9. South Interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru, will also experience intermittent moderate rainfall over the next six days.
Residents, farmers, and travellers should stay updated with official weather bulletins and take necessary precautions, local officials stressed. Monsoon activity is expected to intensify further, and localised flooding, traffic disruptions, and weather-related incidents are expected to occur in vulnerable areas.
As Karnataka enters the peak phase of the monsoon season, the recent rain in Bengaluru serves as a reminder of the benefits and challenges that accompany the annual rains. While the showers bring relief from rising temperatures and support agricultural activities, they also highlight the need for improved urban drainage and disaster preparedness in rapidly growing cities.
