India, May 19 -- A heavy downpour on Sunday night wreaked havoc across several parts of Bengaluru, with the Horamavu region bearing the brunt. On Monday morning, rescue teams were forced to deploy boats to reach stranded residents in waterlogged neighbourhoods - a grim reminder of the city's recurring civic failures.

Areas such as Vidyaranyapura Sai Layout in Horamavu were among the worst affected. Water levels rose beyond knee height in front of several homes, prompting authorities to use boats to assess the situation and provide assistance. Despite repeated pleas by locals in the past and protests demanding proper stormwater drains and road upgrades, the region continues to remain vulnerable after every spell of rain.

Across the city,...