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Context

• The unprecedented heavy rain and flooding in Bengaluru over the last few days have opened the Pandora’s box of unauthorised constructions on the city’s valleys and lake beds.
• Yelahanka lake, Singapura lake, Allasandra lake and Amanikere lake overflowed leading to flooding.

The region

• Yelahanka is a suburb of Bangalore in Karnataka.
• It is older than the Bengaluru city which has now overgrown engulfing many of its neighbouring villages and towns.
• It lies to the north of Bangalore City.

Flooding in Yelahanka

• The city’s topography is characterised by a series of well-defined valleys which radiate from a ridge and fall gradually in all directions.
• The four major valleys are Vrishabhavathi valley, Koramangala valley, Challaghatta valley and Hebbal valley.
• The lakes were built across these valleys and floodwater used to flow through these valleys.
• The lesser-known valleys are Marathalli in the east, Arkavathy and Kethamaranahalli in the northwest, Kathriguppe and Tavarekere in the south and they also play an important role in forming a natural drainage system where rainwater can flow through.
• However, due to rapid urbanisation, these natural canals have been blocked by construction layouts, residential apartments and academic institutions.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-bengaluru-neighbourhoods-flooded-rain-7637441/

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