The severe flooding on Varthur Kodi Road in east Bengaluru on Saturday was the result of three different infrastructural issues, the Bengaluru East City Corporation has identified.

Officials are now rushing to fix the loopholes as the monsoon sets in. In addition, all corporations have directed officials to strictly attend to civic issues raised on the ASTraM application, which facilitates the coordination between different departments.

An official from the East City Corporation told The Hindu that the saucer drain near Manipal Hospital on Varthur Road is at a much higher elevation than the stormwater drain (SWD), which hindered the smooth flow of rainwater. The incessant rainfall led to water stagnating on the road.

“We have now planned to increase the elevation of the SWD. The work has started, but it will take some time to complete,” the officer said.

He added that the area received about 55 mm of incessant rainfall on Saturday, leading to water stagnation. The large volume of water helped officials identify the flaw.

In addition, a pipeline on the same stretch, but at a different location, was not connected to the SWD, and this connection will soon be established, he said. Further, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had also undertaken works along the stretch, which contributed to the hindrance, the official added.

“We have ensured that the flooding will not recur, and in the meantime, we will implement a long-term solution,” he said.

Officials have also been instructed to redesign drain structures wherever necessary to address slope and water inflow issues.

ASTraM app

As a proactive measure, corporation officials have instructed engineers and staff to respond immediately to infrastructure issues raised on the ASTraM application and engage with stakeholders to address them as and when they arise.

The ASTraM application has a feature that allows the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) to raise civic issues and tag the relevant stakeholders. The system works by generating tickets and closing them once the issue has been resolved.

Even on Saturday, the flooding issue was raised by the BTP, but the response was not immediate, according to sources. The issue also required multiple stakeholders to be present on the ground to address it, which was delayed.

Meanwhile, the World Bank-funded stormwater drain strengthening works are continuing. Officials have identified encroachments at several locations, which are now being cleared.