Residents of Sai Layout in Horamavu, part of the Mahadevapura zone, continue to suffer from flooding—even before the monsoon. On Saturday, pre-monsoon rains submerged the area under 4–5 feet of water. When TOI visited on Sunday, most homes were locked and BBMP had just started pumping out water. Remaining residents lacked clean water and waited outside for help.
BBMP officials said the layout lies in a low-lying area, while the stormwater drain (SWD) is at a higher level, preventing natural drainage. Since the layout falls under BDA jurisdiction, BBMP’s role is limited. However, BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao visited the area and said their technical team will study the issue, while BDA has been instructed to act. A pump has been deployed 24/7 as a temporary fix. Rao assured compensation for affected homes under disaster management rules.
Residents said their lives are disrupted. Kumareshan K.R. had to move his family due to flooding and now plans to relocate. Long-time resident Neelufur Ahmed said yearly promises to fix the drainage remain unfulfilled. She recently hit three people due to waterlogging and now faces repair costs. Others said there’s no clean water or proper drainage, yet BBMP demands extra garbage tax. “If this is illegal, why was it sold and taxed?” asked Neelufur.Homeowner Nagaveni echoed the frustration, saying officials visit but no lasting action is taken. She had to shift her tenants during the rain and had earlier spent ₹40,000 to raise her house entrance.
The SWD behind Sai Layout, originally 50m wide, has narrowed to 6m at a railway crossing. A ₹14-crore project with rail authorities is underway to restore it, but the timeline is unclear due to nearby railway work.
