Bengaluru Traffic Jam: Heavy Rain, Hailstorm Lash City, Silk Board to Hebbal Choked, Airport Routes Affected

Bengaluru was thrown into chaos on Wednesday evening as a sudden spell of heavy rain accompanied by a hailstorm led to widespread waterlogging, traffic gridlock and disruption of normal movement across the city. Key arterial roads, including routes դեպի Kempegowda International Airport, were severely affected, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Several major junctions and stretches reported intense congestion after rainwater inundated low-lying areas, forcing partial or complete road closures in some locations. Areas such as Silk Board Junction, Outer Ring Road, Marathahalli, Whitefield and Hebbal were among the worst hit, with vehicles crawling at a snail's pace. Traffic movement along Bellary Road and Yelahanka also slowed significantly as waterlogging and heavy inflow of vehicles compounded the situation.

The sudden downpour not only flooded main roads but also impacted several internal and connecting routes. In multiple areas, vehicles broke down after being stuck in waterlogged stretches, with some abandoned on the roads, further worsening the snarls.

Slow-moving traffic was reported across several parts of the city due to waterlogging, further compounding the evening rush hour chaos. Key stretches affected included Tavarekere Main Road towards Hopcoms, the Ayyappa Underpass towards Madiwala Police Station, Domlur, Old Airport Road, and Chikpete Main Road.

Congestion was also severe along Bannerghatta Main Road, Chinnappa Layout in Mahadevapura, Sarakki Junction, Lalbagh Main Road, and Kodichikkanahalli Main Road. On Mysore Road, traffic near BB Junction was also moving at a crawl as inundated roads and stalled vehicles disrupted the flow.

In the last two hours, Bengaluru City has received 78 mm of rain. HAL Airport has received 24.7 mm of rain.

Emergency response teams, including Fire and Emergency Services personnel and traffic police, were deployed across affected zones to manage the situation. Authorities initiated efforts to clear stalled vehicles, regulate traffic flow and pump out water from flooded roads to restore normalcy.

The hailstorm added to the intensity of the weather event, catching many commuters off guard and worsening visibility during peak hours. The combination of strong winds, heavy rain and ice pellets created hazardous driving conditions across several parts of the city.

With Bengaluru witnessing increasingly erratic pre-monsoon weather patterns, Wednesday's disruption once again highlighted the city's vulnerability to sudden downpours, where even short spells of intense rain can bring traffic and infrastructure to a near halt.