Mysuru: When Mysuru went to sleep last night, it had received anywhere between 40 to 45 mm rain within a span of around eight hours. When it woke up this morning, there was a trail of destruction. The entire Srirampura, bordering the Manandavadi Road was submerged and over 134 houses were inundated. Residents had to be rescued using boats, a sight, which has never been witnessed in the history of the city.

Probably for the first time in the history of this heritage city, almost all the lakes surrounding it breached, inundating the residential areas. The overnight rain flooded several parts of the city, submerging parking lots, basements and entire road stretches, and snapped power in vast swathes.

While water logging complaints were being attended to till late at night, the power situation was back to normal in most parts of the city this morning.

To start with, the Hootagalli Lake breached late last night and water flowed into Hinkal Lake, Mariyappanakere, filling them to the brim after 20 years. From there, water flowed to Lingambudhi Lake and then to Dalvoy Lake through Raja Kaluves, ultimately to join Hennhole on Nanjangud Road and from there to Kapila river. As the water travelled via Raja Kaluves, the nearby areas were flooded.

Srirampura the epicentre

Srirampura was the epicentre of the floods where over 134 houses were submerged. While the first floors of the house were inundated, residents had to take shelter on the second and third floors. A huge drain near Ashwini Choultry on H.D. Kote Road overflowed, forcing the entry of muddy water inside the houses.

Electronic equipment including TVs and fridges and furniture inside most of the houses were rendered worthless. Many residents complained that they saw snakes and scorpions taking shelter in their beds and kitchens.

Sangappa, a retired Government officer was struggling to empty the water inside his house. “I woke up at 3 am as water covered the pillars that supported my bed. I immediately saved my grandchild who was sleeping inside a cradle,” he told Star of Mysore.

As the news of flooding spread, personnel from the Fire Service Department rushed to the spot with three boats (air boats) to rescue the residents. By noon, over 50 residents were rescued and priority was given to senior citizens and women.

One old woman who was sitting on the terrace of her house refused to come in the boat. Finally she relented after her neighbours convinced her to climb the boat.

Other major area to be affected was Bogadi where a part of Ring Road was completely submerged and motorists had a tough time in wading through the water. There was four to five feet of water on the road.

Amrita Educational institution in Bogadi had to bear the brunt as water entered the compound and the basement. The basement was fully water-logged and the MCC Zone 4 authorities initiated the cleaning operation.

Parents, teachers and students who came to the institution this morning were forced to stand outside. Later, a holiday was declared to the institution.

Hotel basement flooded: The basement of “Sai Upahar” on the Bogadi Ring Road was submerged, destroying the hotel grocery stock. “Many rice bags, grocery stocks, oil and vegetables have been destroyed,” said M. Girish, proprietor of the hotel.

The Thippayanakere that was recently rejuvenated by the District Administration and certain companies overflowed due to large inflow of water. Trees were uprooted on the Jodi Thenginamara Road, Kalidasa Road and Ramanuja Road.

Karnataka Exhibition Ground inundated: The Karnataka Exhibition Ground that is flocked by Dasara tourists and children for amusement has been inundated with the amusement park bearing the brunt.

The retainer wall of the Grounds from the side of M.G. Road collapsed and shops have been flooded, destroying the goods brought by vendors from various parts of the country.

Gallons of rainwater gushed from the Chamundi Hill to inundate certain low lying areas at J.C. Nagar. The Devikere atop the Chamundi Hill is full to the brim and water is overflowing from the top the hill.

St Mary’s Street: The downpour left a trail of destruction on St. Mary’s Road at Yelethota Circle. The overflowing drain has destroyed three shops and one of the shops where photocopying machines were kept was destroyed. The other structures next to the drain too are standing precariously.