Bengaluru witnessed its heaviest rainfall of 2025 as over six hours of relentless downpour from Sunday night through Monday morning brought India’s tech hub to a standstill. At least one person was killed in rain-related incidents, while multiple neighborhoods were left underwater, forcing rescue teams to deploy boats to evacuate stranded residents5. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the city until May 22 as more rainfall is expected in the coming days.
Record Rainfall Brings City to Its Knees
The torrential rainfall, which began late Sunday (May 18) and continued into the early hours of Monday (May 19), recorded staggering measurements across the city. Kengeri received the highest at 132 mm, while Vaderahalli in northern Bengaluru recorded 131.5 mm. Several areas measured rainfall exceeding 100 mm overnight, with the city-wide 24-hour average standing at 105.5 mm as measured by the local Meteorological Centre.
Low-lying areas bore the brunt of the deluge, with popular junctions like Silk Board, Bommanahalli, and HRBR Layout severely flooded. Manyata Tech Park, one of the largest IT and business hubs housing numerous multinational corporations, resembled a lake with water levels reaching two feet at entry points. The park management confirmed they were coordinating with civic authorities to pump out the water.
As floodwaters rose rapidly, rescue teams were forced to use boats to reach residents trapped in their homes, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods. Social media platforms were inundated with images and videos showing citizens and officials using tractors and boats to navigate submerged streets. The Bengaluru City Police issued traffic advisories for several areas, including New Bel Road towards Ayyappa temple, Nagawara bus stop toward Sarayapalya, and Allasandra to Yelahanka Circle.
“This water was meant to fill Bellandur and Varthur lakes. But for over two years, our government has been busy filling its pockets instead of desilting the lakes,” claimed a citizens’ group from East Bengaluru on social media, highlighting infrastructure concerns.
Monday morning commuters faced severe gridlock across the city, with many roads completely waterlogged. Residents were advised to work from home as major thoroughfares became impassable. Videos shared online showed buses stranded in knee-deep water on Koramangala 80 feet road, while many IT professionals found their office parks inundated.
The IMD has predicted partly cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thunderstorms to continue until May 22, with additional rainfall likely on May 23 and 24. The yellow alert covers not only Bengaluru but 22 other districts in Karnataka. According to weather forecasts, residents should brace for daily afternoon thunderstorms through May 25, with temperatures expected to hover between 27°C and 29°C.
Adding to concerns, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the east central Arabian Sea off the Karnataka coast around May 22, which could potentially intensify as it moves northward. This system is expected to bring increased rainfall activity to the region through May 25.
Local authorities continue working to clear clogged drains and manage traffic disruptions while monitoring the situation closely. Weather experts suggest that such intense and frequent rainfall at this time of year might indicate shifting weather patterns in the region.
