India’s Silicon Valley Flooded After Heavy Rains

Bengaluru, often referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, is facing severe disruptions after heavy rainfall brought the city to a standstill. The city’s infrastructure has been overwhelmed, with many areas receiving over 100mm of rain, a record since 2011, described as “rare” by CS Patil, a director at the regional weather department. As a result, several parts of the city are underwater, and three people, including a 12-year-old boy, lost their lives in rain-related incidents on Monday.

The flooding has caused widespread property damage and traffic disruptions, with many commuters wading through knee-deep water. Major global technology companies, many of whom are based in Bengaluru, have advised their employees to work from home due to flooded roads. “There is no need for the people of Bengaluru to be worried,” said DK Shivakumar, deputy chief minister of Karnataka state, as authorities work to rectify the situation in 210 identified flood-prone areas.

However, officials are facing criticism for the city’s crumbling infrastructure and poor urban planning. Annu Itty, a resident of eight years, notes that newly developed areas, particularly those housing the booming tech sector, face the worst flooding. She attributes this to a “lack of coherent urban planning that respects environmental limits” and a lack of government accountability.

The state government has defended itself, stating that these are long-standing issues ignored by previous governments. “The issues we face today are not new. They have been ignored for years, across governments and administrations,” Shivakumar said. The opposition BJP has demanded 10bn rupees ($117m, £87.5m) for relief operations, accusing the local government of failing to tackle rain-related issues despite significant infrastructure spending.

Experts point to rapid construction over the city’s lakes and wetlands and poor urban planning as contributing factors to the crisis. Ananda Rao, president of the Association for Information Technology, representing over 450 software companies, calls for long-term solutions to improve the city’s infrastructure, stating, “Bengaluru contributes significantly in taxes… There is no return on this investment”.