Stranded B'lureans wait to head home

Bengaluru city could see cloudy skies and inter mittent drizzle for three more days, although there is no chance of a downpour. A Met department official said, “There is a trough of low pressure over southeast Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka and off Tamil Nadu. As a result, it may drizzle for three more days in Bengaluru,“ adding, “There is an upper air cyclonic circulation extending for 3.6 km over the same region.“
Coastal Karnataka could receive scattered rainfall; eastern districts of south-interior Karnataka could receive more rainfall than other areas as they are closer to Tamil Nadu coast.GS Srinivas Reddy , director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitor Centre, said it may rain in the second week of December too. “The weather system in the Bay of Bengal will result in more rain,“ he added. As heavy rains continues to lash Chennai and the water level rises, scores of Bengalureans who were visiting the Tamil Nadu capital are stranded with some of them finding safety on terraces of houses and others waiting for food. Jayakar Paul, a doctor and resident of Cox Town, said: “I came to Chennai for a project and was supposed to retur n last Monday. As most of the streets are flood ed, it is impossible to reach the airport. I have been stranded in a flat on the outskirts of the city for three days.“
He further said, “Lakes are overflowing and water level has reached the first floor. The city itself has become one big drain.We cannot step down from the terrace and haven't eaten anything for two days. Over 500 families with kids in this area are not able to shift anywhere... Those on the outskirts are facing a tough time.Nobody is able to reach them.“
John Vincent, 22, an IT professional working in Bengaluru, who went to visit his family in Chennai over a week ago has not been able to step out their home.“As there was a medical urgency, I had to come here last week. I have missed one week of work and it looks like I am going to miss it for another few days. As the roads are water-logged, I am not able to step out my house. I have booked a ticket for Friday night but don't know if I will be able to make it,“ he said.
V Kulasekharan, a government employee posted in Bengaluru, was visiting home when rains brought the city to a standstill. “I was supposed to return to Bengaluru last Wednesday but had to cancel the ticket as I can't step out of my house. We are all stuck inside out home. I have applied leave for another two days now,“ he said.
Similarly, Jonathan Mark Uttangi, a resident of Lingarajapuram, is stranded in his parents' house in Chennai: “When I was coming to Chennai, the train from Bengaluru was delayed by a few hours -that three hours was nothing compared to the time that I have spent waiting here for the water to recede. We are safe as our house is on the third floor.Now, even my family wants to come with me to stay away from this disaster.“
Meanwhile, Chennaites who had to come to Bengaluru also had to stay put in the Tamil Nadu capital. “I have join an internship in Bengaluru but haven't been able to leave as the roads are flooded. Forget Bengaluru, I can't even get to the main road from my house.“ said Lakshmi Priya, a student of Madras Christian College in Tambaram.
Shyam Gowtham, a resident of Tambaram in south Chennai who had to attend a family function in Bengaluru, said: “There's no electricity supply or mobile network and water has almost entered the house. I had booked tickets for Bengaluru but I still haven't been able to get out.“