Bengaluru: Nearly three years after a software engineer lost her life in a flooding incident, the underpass at KR Circle was submerged once again Wednesday.The underpass, which witnessed the tragic drowning during pre-monsoon rain in May 2023, was inundated with over 12ft of rainwater, following downpour in the central parts of the city. As of Thursday evening, pumping operations were still under way, with authorities struggling to clear the accumulated water.An engineer from Bengaluru Central City Corporation overseeing the situation said the flooding was exacerbated by run-off from surrounding elevated areas. “Yesterday’s rain was intense, and water from nearby sloping stretches, including Vidhana Soudha Road and Century Club, flowed into the underpass. We currently have three machines pumping water, but the absence of fire emergency support has slowed down the process,” the engineer said.The underpass was immediately closed to traffic to prevent any casualties. “We’ve stopped vehicular movement to ensure safety… we are still working towards a solution. More drain inlets are needed along the sloping roads to reduce pressure on the underpass,” the engineer added, while also noting the expanded responsibilities following the transition to Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).The GBA chief commissioner, Maheshwar Rao, said the administration is now considering structural interventions. “The existing drain at the entrance is insufficient to handle the volume of water. We plan to build a cut drain at the entry point and cover the top of the underpass with sheets to prevent rainwater ingress,” he said, adding that the model would be similar to the High Grounds underpass design.Lokayukta to reopen probeThe recurrence of flooding has also revived scrutiny from Karnataka Lokayukta, which had issued notice to multiple officials following the 2023 incident.Sources indicated that Lokayukta is set to take up the matter again Monday. “After the previous incident, there was a lot of blame-shifting among officials. Engineers claimed that corrective works were undertaken. But with flooding occurring again, it appears those measures have not been effective,” a source said.With the same spot flooding repeatedly despite past tragedy and official assurances, questions are once again being raised about the effectiveness of mitigation measures and the accountability of civic agencies.
