Bangalore, known as India’s IT hub, Silicon City, and the City of the Future, boasts a diverse population and fast-paced life, attracting people from across the globe. However, beneath its modern façade lies a harsh reality that becomes all too apparent during the rainy season. Once celebrated for its planning and infrastructure, the city now turns into an amusement park of sorts, with flooded streets, submerged neighborhoods, and overwhelmed drainage systems during even moderate rains.

Last week’s downpour once again exposed the inadequacies in Bangalore’s urban planning and civic infrastructure. Several areas of the city were underwater, transforming roads into waterways. Water filled houses, residential complexes, and tech parks alike. Manyata Tech Park, one of the city’s premier IT hubs, witnessed a waterfall-like scenario, while several tech parks found themselves submerged. Roads in many residential layouts were also submerged, leaving residents questioning the accountability of those responsible for approving such projects without considering the natural flow of water.

The flooding has far-reaching consequences. Water enters homes, damaging personal property and leading to a surge in dangerous encounters with reptiles like snakes, which find their way into houses through the rainwater. The poorly maintained drainage systems, blocked with debris and inadequately cleaned, only worsen the situation. Vehicles suffer damage as floodwaters seep into engines, and tragically, lives are lost when people accidentally fall into water-covered manholes and drains.

Who is responsible for this alarming situation? The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city’s municipal body, seems to be at the center of the blame. It is questionable how buildings and residential layouts are approved, especially when built on what were once natural lakes or water bodies. The BBMP’s failure to enforce proper urban planning and drainage maintenance has left Bangalore vulnerable to severe flooding during every monsoon season.

Meanwhile, city officials, including the BBMP Commissioner, enjoy the luxury of lavish bungalows, cars, and round-the-clock security. The concerned ministers, also provided with similar amenities, appear indifferent to the plight of the people they are supposed to serve. Despite their comfortable lifestyles, the residents of Bangalore live in constant fear of their homes being submerged during the rains, while officials fail to act promptly to clean drains or address known flood-prone areas.

The streets of Bangalore, once known for their charm, now turn into temporary lakes and ponds after every heavy shower. The crumbling infrastructure and lack of foresight from those in charge are transforming this once-garden city into a city of chaos every monsoon.

The pressing question remains: When will the authorities prioritize the safety and well-being of Bangalore’s residents over their own comfort? It’s time for decisive action—before the city’s legacy is washed away in the floods.