Manyata Tech Park Updates
On October 15, heavy rains lashed Bengaluru, leaving Manyata Tech Park, one of the city’s major IT hubs, severely waterlogged. The flooding in this sprawling 330-acre tech park near Hebbal, home to several Fortune 500 companies, disrupted traffic, caused chaos, and led to urgent demands for work-from-home (WFH) options from employees working in the area.
Videos of the flooded roads inside Manyata Tech Park quickly went viral on social media, showing cars wading through knee-deep water and rain cascading down walls like waterfalls. The Nagawara flyover, located near the tech park, was also submerged, further hampering traffic movement along the already congested Outer Ring Road. The heavy downpour left not only the tech park but also major roads across the city paralyzed.
Stranded Techies and Growing WFH Demands
The situation inside Manyata Tech Park became so dire that many companies instructed their employees to remain in the office until the flooding subsided. Some workers were stranded for hours as they waited for the roads to clear. In the evening, many companies responded to the worsening conditions by allowing their employees to work from home on October 16, as traffic and waterlogging posed significant challenges.
The flooding impacted not just Manyata but also other tech hubs across Bengaluru. Areas along the Central Silk Board to KR Puram section of the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which houses a number of tech companies, saw similar flooding and traffic disruptions. The tech corridors near RGA Tech Park, Wipro Gate on Sarjapur Road, and Electronics City also faced significant waterlogging, adding to the frustration of thousands of commuters.
Schools Closed, Traffic Gridlock Across the City
Bengaluru’s Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesh issued an emergency circular announcing the closure of all anganwadi centers and schools for October 16. This decision followed an orange alert issued by the Meteorological Department, forecasting continued heavy rains over the next few days. Meanwhile, some private schools shifted to online classes to minimize the disruption caused by the downpour.
The city’s traffic police reported gridlocks on major roads, including Outer Ring Road, Mysuru Road, Tumakuru Road, and Airport Road, leaving motorists stranded for hours. Several commuters expressed their frustration, blaming the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its inadequate rain preparedness and poor drainage systems. Ride-hailing services reportedly surged their prices, adding to the woes of stranded passengers.
Government and Civic Response
BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath directed civic officials to remain on high alert, especially in flood-prone areas like Manyata Tech Park. In a virtual meeting, he emphasized the need for quick responses to rain-related emergencies and ensured that the BBMP helpline (1533) was available for citizens to report issues. He urged officials to prioritize residents’ safety and ensure that people were moved to shelter if necessary.
According to the BBMP, the Meteorological Department has forecasted more rain for the next three days, with Yelahanka, East, and West Bengaluru expected to receive the highest rainfall. Waterlogging was reported in several areas across the city, including Sarjapur Road, Whitefield, and parts of the tech corridors, further complicating traffic.
As Bengaluru grapples with the aftermath of these heavy rains, the call for long-term solutions to the city’s recurring monsoon-related issues grows louder. For now, however, techies in Manyata and beyond are opting for work-from-home to avoid being caught in the chaos of Bengaluru’s unpredictable weather.
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