Mysuru: Water flowing like a river on main roads taking along two-wheelers and cycles, trees falling on cars, rain water mixed with drainage water entering homes, stagnation in storm water drains, overflowing manholes, motorists navigating through knee-deep water on pothole-filled roads…

These were a few scenes witnessed in city last evening as the city was battered by rain for almost two hours. So much was the damage that the after-effects were seen this morning too where residents of low-lying areas clearing water that had flowed into their kitchens and bed rooms. Basements of many multi-storeyed complexes were flooded and Fire and Emergency Services personnel were pressed into service to pump the water out.

BOY INJURED

A 15-year-old boy sustained fracture on his leg as a part of a two-storey building collapsed at Vishveshwaranagar. The boy is Arun and he was sitting near the building along with a group of his friends. Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Nithin of the area said that the houses were dilapidated and only three days back the houses were vacated and residents were moved to other areas.

THREE-HOUR ORDEAL

It was a normal sunny day yesterday where the city residents were expecting light to moderate showers in the evening. However, rain, accompanied by strong winds and occasional lightning and thunder lashed city at around 4.30 pm. It rained in almost all parts of the city for almost three hours.

More than 10 trees came crashing and a few of the trees fell on vehicles crushing them under branches. Trees also fell on electric poles, plunging areas into darkness. The worst affected areas were Hebbal near Sankranti Circle where a huge tree fell on vehicles, Saraswathipuram, Raghavendranagar, Siddarthanagar, areas around Hebbal Surya Bakery, Ameena Masjid near Mandi Mohalla, Kyathamaranahalli, and Krishnamurthypuram, areas near Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kurimandi and Rajendranagar.

Water entering houses were reported from Kumbarakoppalu, Jayanagar, Hebbal, Ballal Circle, Bharatnagar, Kyathamaranahalli, parts of Mandi Mohalla, Kamanakerehundi, Bharatnagar, Kanakagiri, Chamundipuram. K.R. Circle, Makkaji Chowk, Dodda Gadiyara, Gandhi Square were flooded and several two-wheelers that were parked by the side of the roads were washed away.

MORE RAIN EXPECTED

According to meteorologists, the rainfall in the past few days is characteristic of the monsoon. The city will witness heavy to very heavy showers in the next two to three days. Yesterday, the city recorded 11.4 mm rain in three hours. Prof. C. Govindaraju, Extension Officer, Education, Organic Farm Research Station Naganahalli said that Kumbha Dhrona rain began in Mysuru since yesterday. “Yesterday it recorded 11.4 mm while 15 days back during Bharani rain, the city recorded 23 mm rain in a single day,” he said.

ADMINISTRATION GEARED UP

The district administration and the Mysuru City Corporation have geared up on war footing to tackle the monsoon challenge. MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadish told SOM that they had taken all precautions to prevent flooding of drains. “Since over a month, we have been cleaning storm water drains and underground drains and have removed all blocks. Old trees have been pruned and our Abhaya teams are on constant alert,” he said.

“As silt in drains is the main cause for floods, we have removed silt from 70-km long storm water drains,” he said. Silt is also being removed from manholes as there are possibilities of storm water entering the UGD lines. Blocked UGD lines, if any, are also getting cleared using machines.

The MCC has 12 jetting machines and exclusive teams have been set up to clear the drains. These workers will be on their toes and as soon as the information flows into the control room, teams will be ready to provide relief, he added.

DC INSPECTS AREAS

Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar has been visiting spots to check drainages to ensure smooth flow of storm water, especially in low-lying areas. He inspected a few areas that have borne the brunt of rain havoc along with a team of officials. He inspected Kanakagiri, Gundu Rao Nagar, Muneshwara and Srirampura Layouts where the rain water had entered homes and caused untold miseries to the residents.

He instructed the MCC and Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) officials to clear the underground drainage, build small bridges and take up desilting works at the earliest. The sewage water collected in the drainage in the low lying area behind Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama must be cleaned and the water must be allowed to flow freely, he said.