Downpour soon after sizzle
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Area Cyclone Warning Centre in Chennai have issued pre-monsoon warnings to district HQs and government heads in Bengaluru about sudden downpours, squally winds and hailstorms in the days to come.
The civic agencies need to be on their toes to tackle flash floods and high-speed winds which could uproot trees and electric poles. The BBMP and the BWSSB are talking about clearing the drains, but little has been done to check old and ailing trees which could fall during pre-monsoon showers which will intensify April 10 onwards. B. Puttanna, director of IMD Bengaluru, says the wind speed could reach a maximum of 70 kmph during pre-monsoon showers which are usually associated with thunder activity.
“The growth of thick black clouds in the sky indicates that flash floods and thunder showers can be expected. Pre-monsoon rains are intense but short-lived and occur over a specific location since the clouds are vertical in nature. If the drains are not cleared before the monsoons, the water will flood the roads,” warns Mr Puttanna. “When city temperatures go above 35 degrees C, evening showers are an assured phenomenon. Higher levels of solar radiation help create clouds using available moisture in the atmosphere and cause further precipitation. These pre-monsoon showers are common during April and May in Bengaluru, Kolar, Tumkur and parts of Mandya and Chitradurga," Mr Puttanna explains.
In April and May 2011, the city received 217.1 mm and 150.5 mm of rainfall respectively. The pre-monsoon showers also uprooted trees and electric poles in many parts of the city. On May 1, a man succumbed to injuries caused by a cement sheet falling during the showers in Anepalya. This year there is no sign of pre-monsoon showers over Bengaluru, but the increase in temperature by a degree or two will lead to thundershowers. Tree experts have cautioned that there could be a great risk to public life since the BBMP has not carried out checks of old trees in the city.
“The BBMP tried creating breathing space around trees so that the roots are firm during the rains. But there are a number of old trees in Bengaluru that could fall during the heavy winds. The BBMP must inspect old and large trees and ensure no calamities are caused due to tree fall," said P. Harsha, a tree expert.
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