Heavy rain pounds Bengaluru; 8 dead in 24 hours, streets turn to rivers

Heavy rains in Bengaluru triggered a hospital wall collapse, killing seven people and injuring several others. Large parts of the city were flooded, with streets submerged in waist-deep water, disrupting normal life.

In Short

• Victims included street vendors and people sheltering from heavy rain
• PM Modi offers Rs 2 lakh compensation to families, Rs 50,000 to injured
• Authorities investigate cause, order review of flood-prone and old structures

Heavy rain and a hailstorm triggered a tragic wall collapse near Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening, killing seven people, including a child, and injuring seven others.

The compound wall of an adjoining building near the hospital premises collapsed and fell on roadside vendors and pedestrians who had taken shelter from the downpour. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and launched operations, while authorities began clearing debris and assessing the cause of the collapse.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the site and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those killed in the incident. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also reached the spot and said a total of eight people died across the city in rain-related incidents, including one death at Vega City Mall.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He termed the incident “unfortunate” and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.

In another rain-related incident, a man aged around 30–35 years died after reportedly coming in contact with an electric pole near Mini Forest, 15th Cross, under the jurisdiction of JP Nagar Police Station. Karnataka Electricity Board officials reached the spot, and JP Nagar Police conducted an inspection.

Officials confirmed that the victims included street vendors and people who were seeking refuge from the rain. Two of the deceased were residents of Kerala who had come to Bengaluru for work. A relative of one of the injured said the victim remains in critical condition.

The sudden downpour brought relief from scorching temperatures but caused widespread disruption across the city. Several areas, including Richmond Town and Shanthinagar, witnessed waist-deep waterlogging, while traffic moved at a snail’s pace on key roads. Water also entered government offices, including parts of Vidhana Soudha.

Authorities reported that trees were uprooted in multiple areas such as Malleswaram, Shanthinagar and Seshadripuram. The Greater Bengaluru Authority said trees fell at nearly 50 locations, prompting deployment of fire and emergency personnel to clear roads and regulate traffic.

Political leaders raised concerns over the condition of ageing infrastructure. Opposition leaders demanded a judicial inquiry, alleging lack of maintenance of the old wall. The state government has announced an investigation into the incident and assured strict action against those found responsible.

Meanwhile, civic authorities have begun re-evaluating flood-prone zones and ageing structures across Bengaluru to prevent further mishaps.

- Ends
With agency inputs.