Panathur railway underbridge in Bengaluru flooded again after Friday evening’s rain, leaving a cab floating in the water and prompting authorities to pump out the floodwater until around 7pm. The incident was the fourth reported flooding episode at the underbridge since July, renewing concerns over drainage capacity on a busy stretch of east Bengaluru.
The cab entered the inundated underbridge and was unable to continue as water accumulated across the roadway. The report did not indicate whether anyone was injured. The flooding disrupted movement through the underpass and again placed motorists at risk of attempting to cross a waterlogged route.
Panathur railway underbridge has also flooded during earlier rain events. Waterlogging was reported in June and again in September, according to the Times of India report. Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about inadequate drainage around Panathur Main Road and the underpass, in addition to sewage overflow and potholes.
The recurrence comes despite road-widening work in the area. Residents said in June that drainage improvements had not kept pace with the widening of the road, leaving the stretch vulnerable to prolonged waterlogging after heavy rain. Friday’s flooding has brought that unresolved gap back into focus, with the road project and the drainage system continuing to function as separate parts of the same corridor.
Authorities responded by pumping out water from the underbridge, with the operation continuing until approximately 7pm. The report did not provide details of the pumping capacity, the volume of water removed, the condition of the drainage outlets or any permanent works planned to prevent another recurrence.
The incident also forms part of a wider pattern of rain-related disruption across Bengaluru. Waterlogging was reported at Munnekolala near Marathahalli, near Hebbal junction and at Bellahalli in north Bengaluru after the same rain. These locations are separate from Panathur, but the simultaneous flooding indicates the scale of pressure placed on the city’s road and drainage infrastructure during intense rainfall.
For residents and commuters, the immediate issue is not only whether water can be removed after a storm, but whether underpasses and connecting roads can remain usable during rainfall. At Panathur, the fourth flooding episode since July leaves the next permanent drainage intervention and its implementation timeline as the key unresolved questions.
