Overnight rain leaves Bengaluru waterlogged, IMD predicts more showers
Bengaluru (PTI): Heavy overnight rains battered Bengaluru, bringing the city to a standstill on Friday with waterlogging in several low-lying areas and traffic snarls on key stretches.
The downpour, which began late Thursday night, continued intermittently on Friday morning.
Bengaluru city recorded 65.5 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours till 5.30 am, with the city’s Automatic Weather Station (AWS) reporting 66 mm. Doddaballapura received 60 mm, Chandurayanahalli in Ramanagara 46 mm, and Hessarghatta in Bengaluru Rural 43 mm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru, predicting light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph at isolated places. Vijayapura, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, Kolar, and Chikkaballapura are also under yellow alert.
Significant rainfall was reported across Karnataka.
According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), Kanagamakalapalli in Chikkaballapura district recorded 130 mm, followed by Tirumani (114 mm), Beechaganahalli (114 mm), Chelur_1 (101 mm), and Bhandarkumtha in Bidar district (112 mm). Gadag received 51.9 mm, Ramanagara’s Chandurayanahalli 46 mm, Tamaka in Kolar 21.5 mm, while Mangaluru reported 20.7 mm. Gulbarga Observatory reported dry thunder.
The IMD cautioned that heavy rain could cause temporary power outages, waterlogging, and uprooting of weak tree branches.
“Take safe shelters; do not take shelter under trees. Unplug electrical and electronic appliances immediately. Get out of water bodies and stay away from objects that conduct electricity. Drive carefully if you are travelling,” the IMD advisory said.
The continuous rainfall has led to new potholes, further inconveniencing commuters, particularly two-wheeler riders.
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Budget 2026 lacks policy vision, offers no solutions: Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the Modi government has run out of ideas, and the Union Budget for 2026-27 does not provide any single solution to India's many economic, social and political challenges.
In a post on X, he said there is no policy vision or political will, and this Budget offers no solutions and not even slogans to hide the absence of policy.
"The Modi Government has run out of ideas. #Budget2026 does not provide a single solution to India's many economic, social, and political challenges.
"'Mission Mode' is now 'Challenge Route'. Reform Express rarely stops at any "Reform" Junction. Net result: NO policy vision, NO political will," he said in his post.
Kharge said farmers still await meaningful welfare support or an income security plan.
"Inequality has surpassed the levels seen under the British Raj, but the Budget does not even mention it or provide any support to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and Minority communities.
"The Finance Commission's recommendations will have to be studied more, but they do not appear to provide any relief to State Governments which are under severe financial stress. Federalism has become a casualty," he said.
"This Budget offers no solutions, NOT even slogans to hide the absence of policy!," the Congress chief said.
In her speech, Sitharaman announced that the target for capex will be raised to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27 from Rs 11.2 lakh crore earmarked for the current fiscal year.
She also announced a slew of measures to boost infrastructure in the country, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
The budget came in the backdrop of global uncertainties, trade frictions and US tariffs and slowdown in exports.
With Union Budget 2026, Nirmala Sitharaman created history as she presented her ninth consecutive Budget and became the longest-serving finance minister.
