Bengaluru Rains Trigger Massive Traffic Chaos On ORR, Flights Affected As IMD Warns Of More Downpour

Heavy rain lashed Bengaluru on Monday, throwing normal life out of gear across several parts of the city. From waterlogged roads and crawling traffic to disrupted flight operations, commuters faced a difficult evening as intense showers continued through the day.

One of the worst-hit stretches was Bengaluru's tech corridor along the Outer Ring Road (ORR), where traffic came to a near standstill from Kalyan Nagar to Nagawara. With metro construction already narrowing portions of the road, the heavy rain further worsened congestion, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.

Many residents and social media users urged companies to allow employees to work from home over the next two weeks, especially in areas affected by ongoing metro work and repeated traffic bottlenecks.

Several parts of the city witnessed flood-like conditions after continuous rainfall. Videos shared online showed submerged roads, stalled vehicles and bumper-to-bumper traffic across major junctions. Commuters who had stepped out during the relatively pleasant weather in the morning later struggled to return home as the rain intensified through the evening.

Waterlogging near RMZ infinity #BengaluruRains

VC: Mohan (WA) pic.twitter.com/LiNCR6G5Az

— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) May 18, 2026

The situation turned chaotic near the Sivananda Circle underpass, where waterlogging led to severe traffic pile-up on the flyover connecting Old Race Course Road and Seshadripuram. Traffic movement slowed significantly across surrounding areas as vehicles queued up for long stretches.

Cars, BMTC buses and private vehicles remained stuck in traffic for hours, while many bikers were seen taking shelter under flyovers and along roadsides to escape the downpour.

Vittal Mallya Road already flooded 😲

VC Madhuri Adnal #BengaluruRains pic.twitter.com/qjpjJNjo3k

— Namma Karnataka Weather (@namma_vjy) May 18, 2026

The heavy rain also impacted operations at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. Flight arrivals and departures were delayed due to reduced visibility and thunderstorms in the region. Passengers were advised to check flight status before heading to the airport and keep additional travel time due to waterlogging and slow-moving traffic across the city.

Office yedruge full neeru. Bike thandidre ivathu hoge guarantee.😂 pic.twitter.com/3uPRutljPb

— ಸಂದೇಶ (@software_sisya) May 18, 2026

Amid the worsening weather conditions, airline company IndiGo issued a travel advisory warning passengers about possible disruptions.

"Bad weather over Bengaluru has impacted flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather and doing our best to get you where you need to be, safely and smoothly," the airline said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in 12 districts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, raising concerns that traffic and waterlogging issues could continue over the coming days.