**Bengaluru's Tech Hub Grapples with Severe Flooding After Unprecedented Rainfall**

Bengaluru, often renowned for its thriving tech industry, faces significant flooding today following an unusual monsoon downpour, leading to multiple fatalities and a call for improved infrastructure.

Severe flooding has beset Bengaluru, India’s prominent tech hub, following an exceptional rainfall that exceeded 100mm (4 inches) in some regions, marking one of the city's most significant downpours since 2011. Authorities have warned residents of additional pre-monsoon showers arriving on Tuesday due to weather patterns originating in the Andaman Sea. Tragically, three individuals, including a boy, have lost their lives to rain-related incidents.

The inundation, which commenced on Sunday, has resulted in extensive water-logging, rendering key roadways impassable and prompting major firms to encourage employees to telecommute. In notable IT districts, infrastructure has severely deteriorated; the compound wall of a tech firm, i-Zed, collapsed, resulting in the death of a female employee. Video footage depicts commuters navigating through knee-deep water, while residential properties have sustained water intrusion.

Amidst ongoing emergency response operations in 210 flood-prone areas, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assured the public, stating, “There is no need for concern.” However, social media reflects a different sentiment, with residents criticizing the city’s inadequate infrastructure. One user remarked, “Bangalore raises a sense of fear and helplessness in commutes during rainy seasons.” Longtime resident Annu Itty highlighted that it is primarily the newer developments, built to cater to the city's booming tech industry, that are most severely affected, attributing the situation to poor urban planning and environmental oversight.

Karnataka’s ruling Congress party faces scrutiny from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has suggested that the government’s response has been lacking and has demanded 10 billion rupees (approximately $117 million) for immediate relief efforts. In defense, Shivakumar pointed to the long-standing nature of the flooding issues, exacerbated by inadequate attention across successive administrations.

Experts have noted that an unchecked expansion over lakes and wetlands, coupled with flawed urban planning, has contributed significantly to the recurring flooding crises in Bengaluru. Ananda Rao, president of the Association for Information Technology, representing over 450 software firms, expressed frustration over the frequent disruptions to business operations, demanding governmental action to enhance the city’s urban infrastructure, noting, “Bengaluru contributes significantly in taxes—there is no corresponding return on this investment.”