Bengaluru Rains: 8 Dead in 24 Hours, Hospital Wall Collapse Kills 7
Torrential rains lashed Bengaluru, triggering widespread flooding and multiple rain-related incidents that claimed eight lives in just 24 hours. Among the dead were seven people killed in a tragic wall collapse near the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a compound wall of an adjacent structure collapsed onto roadside vendors and pedestrians who had taken shelter from heavy rain and hailstorm. At least seven people, including a child, were killed and several others injured. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and began debris clearance and relief operations.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the site and announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of each victim. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar confirmed that eight people died across the city in rain-related incidents, including one fatality reported at Vega City Mall.
In a separate incident, a man died after allegedly coming into contact with a live electric pole in the JP Nagar area, highlighting the risks posed by damaged infrastructure during extreme weather.
The heavy downpour, while bringing respite from heat, caused severe disruption across the city. Areas such as Richmond Town and Shanthinagar witnessed waist-deep waterlogging, with traffic severely affected. Water also entered government buildings, including parts of the Vidhana Soudha.
Authorities reported that trees were uprooted at nearly 50 locations across areas like Malleswaram, Seshadripuram and Shanthinagar. Emergency teams were deployed to clear roads and restore normalcy.
The incident has sparked political reactions, with opposition leaders demanding a judicial probe into the wall collapse and raising concerns over ageing infrastructure and poor maintenance. The state government has ordered an investigation and assured strict action against those responsible.
Civic authorities have also begun reviewing flood-prone zones and vulnerable structures to prevent similar tragedies as Bengaluru grapples with recurring urban flooding challenges.
