Bengaluru hit by heavy rains, Karnataka govt issues work-from-home directive for Oct 16

District commissioner also declared a holiday for schools in the city as waterlogging and traffic congestion worsened

The Karnataka government on Tuesday issued a work-from-home advisory for IT-BT (information technology and biotechnology) companies and other private firms in Bengaluru for October 16, following an orange alert by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) due to heavy rains.

The Department of Electronics, Information Technology-Biotechnology and Science and Technology stated, "In light of the continuous and heavy rainfall in Bengaluru City and the orange alert issued by the Meteorological Department, we are prioritising the safety and well-being of all employees... It is recommended that IT-BT and private companies permit their employees to work from home on October 16, 2024."

The Bengaluru district commissioner also declared a holiday for schools in the city on the same day, as waterlogging and traffic congestion worsened.

Areas under BBMP limits saw 37 mm of rainfall in just seven hours, with some locations receiving 65 mm. Roads near Manyata Tech Park and Kempegowda International Airport were among the worst affected.

Union minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy criticised the Congress government for its poor monsoon preparedness, stating, “Bengaluru’s rain fury has exposed the utter collapse of infrastructure. This isn’t just rain, it’s the failure of governance... The city’s future is at stake.”