It has become more of a nightmare than the refreshing blessing that it should be for the residents of Bengaluru. Once hallowed as the “Silicon Valley of India,” the city woke up once again on Monday morning to flooded roads, underpasses submerged and gushing traffic, after receiving 100 mm and more of rain overnight in the city. Thousands of commuters were left stranded as waterlogging was reported from major areas such as Koramangala, Whitefield, Indiranagar, and Bellandur while the emergency services were stretched to their limits.
This is not the first time the city has ground to a halt because of heavy rain, but the worst part is that such incidents are no longer unusual — they’re the new normal.
A City Repeating the Same Mistakes
The rains for the night began late on Sunday and reached their crescendo in the early morning hours of Monday. Bengaluru’s poorly maintained and clogged drainage networks again gave way. People posted pictures on social media of automobiles underwater, houses flooded, and waist-deep water in some areas.
Experts have cautioned for years that uncontrolled urbanisation, lack of planning, and the invasion of stormwater drains and lakes are the key factors leading to such tragedies. Sadly, with repeated warning and copious assurances by civic authorities falling on deaf ears, flooding has emerged as a grim staple in the city’s new persona.
As an frustrated local tweeted: “We don’t reside in Bengaluru anymore — we stay in Venice, but with litter and potholes.”
IT Sector Suffers Most Again
It has been all the more severe on Bengaluru’s IT corridor. Offices in Electronic City and Outer Ring Road have been flooded or are inaccessible, forcing many employees to work from home or cancel meetings. Startups, and established tech giants alike, were hit, and with deadlines to catch up upon globally, productivity took a big hit.
Many IT folks, already juggling searches for work-from-anywhere as well as places to work from anywhere, are losing their patience over a city unable to deliver even the most basic civic infrastructure. According to a senior manager at a multinational tech company, “We are doing AI, blockchain, and crypto & wealth management innovation in Bengaluru but can’t promise a safe, dry ride after 10 minutes of rain — that’s ironic.”
Flashback 2022, 2023… and Now 2025
This is not the first time it has occurred in Bengaluru. In 2022 and 2023, it was the same story, with tractors rescues and crores of property damage. Then, the urban development authorities spoke of de-silting drains, removal of encroachments, and spending on sustainable drainage systems.
In May 2025, a repeat performance hasn’t altered the script.
Many netizens and civic activists are calling out the apathy of local governing bodies. With municipal elections looming, pressure is building on policymakers to finally deliver on their promises.
A Wake-Up Call for Smart Cities?
Bengaluru is one of India’s flagship smart cities. But what does a “smart city” mean when its infrastructure collapses under routine weather conditions?
Urban planners argue that unless there’s a systemic overhaul of the drainage, road, and waste management systems, no amount of digital solutions or data analytics can fix the core issues.
In fact, smart solutions cannot rise unless hand-in-hand with sustainable urban planning. For example, predictive flood mapping and real-time water level monitoring — let alone AI-driven civic response units — long-term can also be the solution; however, these must be implemented with a genuine intent and transparency.
Citizen Power
Though the situation was chaotic, Bengaluru’s citizens – again came up with a more responsive nature. From distributing food to making arrangements for the movement of traffic, volunteers and RWAs coordinated events to help the elderly and children navigate the waterlogged streets.
Social media platforms were also instrumental, assisting people to steer clear of blocked roads and look for shelter. Platforms such as Twitter, WhatsApp groups, and navigation portals provided live updates and safety notices. Nonetheless, crisis management by citizens shouldn’t be the norm — it should be effective governance instead.
How Cricketers and Celebrities Are Reacting
Interestingly, the flood-hit city found a bit of respite on the entertainment front. Fans were excited to see Record-Breaker Harsh Dubey make his IPL debut for SunRisers Hyderabad this week. Amid the despair, sports offered a brief distraction, and social media was filled with memes like, “Bengaluru is flooded, but Harsh Dubey is flooding wickets!”
Dubey, an up-and-coming talent from the Ranji Trophy circuit, is soon finding himself a household name. His attention to detail, work ethic, and steady performance are being spoken about as lessons Bengaluru’s city planners could learn from.
The Financial Impact and What’s Next
Flooding puts a heavy economic burden on the city. Loss of productivity, property damage, insurance adjustments, and medical expenses place pressures not only on individuals but on the economy of the city as well. Some residents, especially young professionals, are already beginning to question long-term investment in Bengaluru real estate.
There’s also a noticeable shift in how people are planning their financial future. With uncertainty in infrastructure and climate resilience, many are exploring crypto & wealth management tools as hedges against conventional investments. The rising demand for digital assets, diversified portfolios, and decentralized finance options is evident in the city’s tech-savvy crowd.
Conclusion: Will Bengaluru Learn This Time?
Bengaluru’s repeated flooding is neither a mere natural calamity — it’s a failure of governance. And it’s true climate change might be exacerbating the intensified patterns of rainfall, but this complete inability to adapt and respond is well and thoroughly man-made.
As the city evaporates-for at least another rain shower-residents are left wondering: when will reform arrive? Will the government finally respond, or will it take something of a catastrophe larger than flooded streets to compel change?
Until then, Bengaluru continues to innovate in technology, celebrate cricketing heroes like Harsh Dubey, and explore new financial frontiers like crypto, while hoping that someday, its infrastructure will be as advanced as its ambition.
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