Bengaluru Rain Fury: Commuters Pay Double as Streets Turn to Rivers

Bengaluru residents were left stranded on Monday as heavy rains triggered severe waterlogging and traffic snarls across the city, bringing the morning commute to a standstill. The early-hour downpour not only flooded several roads but also led to skyrocketing cab fares, with many commuters forced to pay nearly double for rides.

A report by Deccan Herald revealed that cab fares from Banaswadi to Kempegowda International Airport-roughly 35 km-were hovering between ₹1,300 and ₹1,700 around 9 am on ride-hailing platforms, a steep rise from the usual ₹1,000. Aggregator apps reportedly imposed surcharges from 8 am to 11 am, compounding the chaos.

One flier, who was heading to Goa, missed his flight after reaching the airport nearly three hours late. "I paid ₹2,000 for the cab and still got stuck in a traffic jam that just wouldn't move," he said.

The cost of commuting in Bengaluru has taken a hit since May 17, as relentless rains continue to batter the city. Streets turned into streams and vehicles crawled through knee-deep water, pushing surge pricing to new highs.

But the rain fury wasn't just an inconvenience - it turned deadly.

In a tragic incident in southeast Bengaluru, a 63-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy were electrocuted while trying to clear stagnant rainwater from an apartment basement. The man was reportedly attempting to drain water from the cellar when he came in contact with an electric source. The boy, who was nearby, also suffered the same fate.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru, warning of more rain through the day. Sunday night's intense showers had already left large parts of the city paralysed, and Monday only made things worse.