Bengaluru Floods Under Relentless Rainfall, Inches from Breaking 100-Year May Record
Bengaluru has been battered by a punishing spell of pre-monsoon rains, pushing the city to the edge of breaking a rainfall record that has stood for over a century. In just 24 hours&mdash;from 8:30 am Sunday to 8:30 am Monday&mdash;the city recorded a staggering 105.5 mm of rainfall, the second-highest single-day May total in recent years.
Airports across the city bore the brunt of the deluge. Kempegowda International Airport recorded 105.5 mm, while HAL Airport reported 78.3 mm. Interestingly, the city&rsquo;s core meteorological station reported no rainfall until 5:30 pm on Sunday&mdash;underscoring the intensity of the overnight cloudburst.
Data from rain gauges citywide confirmed the widespread nature of the downpour. Kengeri registered the highest with 132 mm, followed by GEO Campus (125.8 mm), Somashettihalli (119.5 mm), Madanayakanahalli (116.5 mm), and Yelahanka Chowdeshwari (103.5 mm). Many areas received well over 100 mm within a 24-hour window.
As of May 19, the city has accumulated 24.6 cm of rainfall this month&mdash;just 6 cm short of the all-time May record of 30.5 cm set in 2023. With ten days remaining in the month and continued rainfall expected, the record may soon be eclipsed.
The human cost of the rains has also begun to surface. Three lives have been lost so far in rain-related incidents. In the latest tragedy, a woman identified as Sasikala (35) died after a compound wall collapsed on her while she was sweeping the premises of a company in Mahadevapura. Two others succumbed at a local hospital following flood-related injuries. Unnatural Death Reports have been initiated in all cases.
As rains show no sign of letting up, officials are on high alert. The city&rsquo;s disaster response mechanisms are being stretched, and residents in low-lying areas have been warned to brace for more waterlogging and potential flash floods.
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roads and cars marooned under flood water

Relentless downpour floods city, triggers chaos and tragedy with more rain forecast ahead

Bengaluru Rains Break Records, Claim Three Lives

Relentless downpour floods city, triggers chaos and tragedy with more rain forecast ahead

May 20, 2025 | 14:07 IST