Bengaluru recorded its highest ever rainfall for the month of April on Wednesday after heavy rain fell within a short period that submerged parts of the city and disrupted traffic across several major areas.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the Bengaluru City Observatory recorded 111.5 mm of rain in 24 hours, surpassing the previous April record of 108.6 mm in 2011. Much of this rain fell within a short period, with about 78 mm recorded in about 30 minutes, leading to rapid waterlogging in the central business district.
The distribution of precipitation varied greatly across sites. While the HAL station recorded 34.2 mm, Kempegowda International Airport reported only minimal rainfall. Among other stations, Bengaluru (AWS) recorded 102 mm, GKVK recorded 9 mm and Doddaballapura 2 mm. Data released by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Center showed concentrated rainfall in several areas, including Kuttonpet (71 mm), Chamarajpet (69.5 mm), Bommomanahalli (61 mm) and Pulakeshinagar (59.5 mm).
The rainfall came after an extended dry period. From April 1 to 28, the city received only a small amount of rainfall, despite a normal monthly average of 61.7 mm.
The sudden intensity of the rain, accompanied by gusty winds and falling hail, led to widespread disturbance. Roads in central areas were quickly submerged, slowing traffic for most of Wednesday evening. Trees were uprooted and their branches cut, further obstructing several roads.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority said 170 trees were uprooted and 408 branches fell during the storm, damaging vehicles, homes and commercial establishments. By late night, 118 had been removed. The impact was concentrated in the central, southern and western regions, while the northern and eastern regions reported limited disturbance. Officials said field teams were instructed to address rain-related complaints within three hours.
Businesses in some areas reported losses as water entered buildings. A bookshop on Church Street said between 4,000 and 5,000 books were damaged, with losses estimated at nearly 4,000 books. $15 lakh.
The Meteorological Department expects the weather to be partly cloudy with intermittent thundershowers during the next 36 to 48 hours, especially in the evening or night. Wind speeds are expected to reach 30 to 40 kilometers per hour, and maximum temperatures are likely to remain around 36 degrees Celsius, about 2 degrees Celsius above normal. Despite the rain, officials said daytime temperatures were unlikely to drop significantly.
