Heavy Rains! Bengaluru has been flooding, but do we know why? Red and yellow alerts have been striking us since the 15th of October, shutting down schools and workplaces and flooding streets. Have you wondered why?
We, the children of Sparkling Mindz Global School experienced this extreme weather too, and the same panic and sheer confusion gripped us all.
Why is this happening?
Don’t we, the children of Bengaluru deserve to know?
Don’t we have a voice?
At Sparkling Mindz, we believe that everything around us is connected to what we learn. The problems of the city can be turned into projects and so we approached this with the same P2P Labs (Problems-to-Projects) mindset.
We ventured deep into this issue to understand, comprehend and find out how to take action.
Here’s what we found…
Defining the Problem
From Tech Hub To “Water Tub”
By Nikhil Varma
Manyata Tech Park, one of Bengaluru's most developed business hubs, was flooded—literally! The heavy rains turned the tech park into "Manyata Tech Fall," which is the new name that the citizens of Bengaluru have given this “Tech Hub.” This was caused due to the waterlogged streets making it feel more like a water park than a workspace.
Despite this space being home to cutting-edge technology and global companies, it seems we weren't quite ready for the FLOOD of challenges that came with the downpour. Located near Nagawara Lake, the tech park couldn’t handle the extra “overflow,” exposing the strain on the city's disappointing infrastructure, poor drainage systems, and unplanned urbanisation.
The major causes of floods in Bengaluru are the increase in land that has been built upon, paved surfaces, encroachment of natural water courses and low-lying areas. Inadequate capacity, encroachment of stormwater drains, and the increasing density of population are also significant factors that affect this problem.
It’s time for us to develop, in urban planning and infrastructure, not just in “FANCY Buildings”
The Water Story of Our City: Bengaluru
By Mihika P Jain
Water crisis then, flooding now. What is happening to our city, Bangaloreans?
Just a few months ago, Bengaluru was crying out, "Water Crisis! Water Crisis!" Yet now, we find ourselves stuck at home because of the downpour of water. What are we doing to the delicate balance that is our water cycle?
Here is what we are doing.
We are taking water from our rivers and depleting the groundwater, this has negative effects on Bengaluru’s ecosystem. The climate is getting warmer year after year and now it’s warmer than ever before. This can lead to higher evaporation rates from water bodies and the soil. And on the other end, there is not enough groundwater recharge. The groundwater recharge rates are meagre, roughly 10% of the rainfall truly recharges our grounds.
Somehow we have affected all parts of the water cycle. As water enters the atmosphere and forms clouds, we are also increasing the emissions in the atmosphere and creating smog. As the water falls to the Earth and tries to enter the ground, we don’t allow it to go further down with our impermeable surfaces and lack of green spaces and wetlands, leading to the flooding of our city.
Rainfall during the time of October-November is normal, but our city can't take it anymore. This is due to a combination of Human intervention and Climate Change.
Our city’s environment, Our city’s ecosystem, and Our city’s water system are getting disrupted.We want to find out what we can do about it, who we can connect with to make this change, and which authorities are working towards a better future for our city and its planning.
Rain, Rain, Go Away... But Aren’t We The Ones Making it Stay?
By Aashna Raghu Sankar
There are floods happening in our city. Floods devastating Bengaluru. Blocked roads, overflowing sewage, damaged houses…it's everywhere. What is happening?
A curious citizen like you might even do a Google search about why this is happening. You would come across these answers like tropical weather disturbances, deforestation, improper agricultural practices, inadequate design of drainage channels and structures or construction of settlements in flood plains. Reasons that seem very reasonable and just as out of your own control.
But would you think that the heat from YOUR house, YOUR heaters, and YOUR vehicles…that heat is what is actually causing excessive evaporation and cloud formation?
Would you think that the pollutant particles from YOUR kitchen stove, YOUR house chimney, and YOUR car’s exhaust… those particles are the surfaces on which water condenses and forms an excessive number of rain droplets?
And that it is THOSE clouds and THOSE rain droplets that are hurtling down on our city at the moment…I would really never think. So many tiny factors, so many minuscule actions, contribute to the devastation of a metropolitan area like Bengaluru. But that also means we have a role in it.
And with that comes hope. While we may not be able to rebuild roads or reshape infrastructure overnight, we can make choices that matter. We can take action that matters.
Questioning The Status Quo
Bengalureans, was ‘Namma Ooru’ built poorly?
By Archita Anish
A few months ago, our city, Bengaluru, faced a two-month water crisis. Now, it is flooding. Why is our city facing these extreme conditions? Is it because of how we were built?
In the 1500s, a vibrant city was established near Yelahanka, envisioned by chieftain Kempegowda as the "City of Lakes." Water from the granite hills flowed into interconnected lakes through stormwater drains called Rajakaluves. With its Keres, Petes, Durgas, and Parks, Bengaluru thrived as the Garden City, evolving into the IT hub and Silicon Valley of the East we know today. However, 550 years later, the city grapples with extreme climates, flooding, and water shortages.
This raises an important question: Did the builders of our city consider these environmental challenges in their planning?
Bengaluru is divided by ridges that direct water flow. The northern region, home to the Vrishabhavathi, Arkavathy, and Cauvery rivers, benefits from well-distributed Rajakaluvaes, allowing better water management. In contrast, the southern Dakshina Pinakini area experiences frequent flooding due to inadequate stormwater management, despite receiving more rainfall.
As we reflect on our city’s historical planning, it’s crucial to recognise that the real issue lies in urbanisation. The conversion of green spaces into built environments drastically alters the water cycle:
We, the children of Sparkling Mindz Global School experienced this extreme weather too, and the same panic and sheer confusion gripped us all.
Why is this happening?
Don’t we, the children of Bengaluru deserve to know?
Don’t we have a voice?
At Sparkling Mindz, we believe that everything around us is connected to what we learn. The problems of the city can be turned into projects and so we approached this with the same P2P Labs (Problems-to-Projects) mindset.
We ventured deep into this issue to understand, comprehend and find out how to take action.
Here’s what we found…
Defining the Problem
From Tech Hub To “Water Tub”
By Nikhil Varma
Manyata Tech Park, one of Bengaluru's most developed business hubs, was flooded—literally! The heavy rains turned the tech park into "Manyata Tech Fall," which is the new name that the citizens of Bengaluru have given this “Tech Hub.” This was caused due to the waterlogged streets making it feel more like a water park than a workspace.
Despite this space being home to cutting-edge technology and global companies, it seems we weren't quite ready for the FLOOD of challenges that came with the downpour. Located near Nagawara Lake, the tech park couldn’t handle the extra “overflow,” exposing the strain on the city's disappointing infrastructure, poor drainage systems, and unplanned urbanisation.
The major causes of floods in Bengaluru are the increase in land that has been built upon, paved surfaces, encroachment of natural water courses and low-lying areas. Inadequate capacity, encroachment of stormwater drains, and the increasing density of population are also significant factors that affect this problem.
It’s time for us to develop, in urban planning and infrastructure, not just in “FANCY Buildings”
The Water Story of Our City: Bengaluru
By Mihika P Jain
Water crisis then, flooding now. What is happening to our city, Bangaloreans?
Just a few months ago, Bengaluru was crying out, "Water Crisis! Water Crisis!" Yet now, we find ourselves stuck at home because of the downpour of water. What are we doing to the delicate balance that is our water cycle?
Here is what we are doing.
We are taking water from our rivers and depleting the groundwater, this has negative effects on Bengaluru’s ecosystem. The climate is getting warmer year after year and now it’s warmer than ever before. This can lead to higher evaporation rates from water bodies and the soil. And on the other end, there is not enough groundwater recharge. The groundwater recharge rates are meagre, roughly 10% of the rainfall truly recharges our grounds.
Somehow we have affected all parts of the water cycle. As water enters the atmosphere and forms clouds, we are also increasing the emissions in the atmosphere and creating smog. As the water falls to the Earth and tries to enter the ground, we don’t allow it to go further down with our impermeable surfaces and lack of green spaces and wetlands, leading to the flooding of our city.
Rainfall during the time of October-November is normal, but our city can't take it anymore. This is due to a combination of Human intervention and Climate Change.
Our city’s environment, Our city’s ecosystem, and Our city’s water system are getting disrupted.We want to find out what we can do about it, who we can connect with to make this change, and which authorities are working towards a better future for our city and its planning.
Rain, Rain, Go Away... But Aren’t We The Ones Making it Stay?
By Aashna Raghu Sankar
There are floods happening in our city. Floods devastating Bengaluru. Blocked roads, overflowing sewage, damaged houses…it's everywhere. What is happening?
A curious citizen like you might even do a Google search about why this is happening. You would come across these answers like tropical weather disturbances, deforestation, improper agricultural practices, inadequate design of drainage channels and structures or construction of settlements in flood plains. Reasons that seem very reasonable and just as out of your own control.
But would you think that the heat from YOUR house, YOUR heaters, and YOUR vehicles…that heat is what is actually causing excessive evaporation and cloud formation?
Would you think that the pollutant particles from YOUR kitchen stove, YOUR house chimney, and YOUR car’s exhaust… those particles are the surfaces on which water condenses and forms an excessive number of rain droplets?
And that it is THOSE clouds and THOSE rain droplets that are hurtling down on our city at the moment…I would really never think. So many tiny factors, so many minuscule actions, contribute to the devastation of a metropolitan area like Bengaluru. But that also means we have a role in it.
And with that comes hope. While we may not be able to rebuild roads or reshape infrastructure overnight, we can make choices that matter. We can take action that matters.
Questioning The Status Quo
Bengalureans, was ‘Namma Ooru’ built poorly?
By Archita Anish
A few months ago, our city, Bengaluru, faced a two-month water crisis. Now, it is flooding. Why is our city facing these extreme conditions? Is it because of how we were built?
In the 1500s, a vibrant city was established near Yelahanka, envisioned by chieftain Kempegowda as the "City of Lakes." Water from the granite hills flowed into interconnected lakes through stormwater drains called Rajakaluves. With its Keres, Petes, Durgas, and Parks, Bengaluru thrived as the Garden City, evolving into the IT hub and Silicon Valley of the East we know today. However, 550 years later, the city grapples with extreme climates, flooding, and water shortages.
This raises an important question: Did the builders of our city consider these environmental challenges in their planning?
Bengaluru is divided by ridges that direct water flow. The northern region, home to the Vrishabhavathi, Arkavathy, and Cauvery rivers, benefits from well-distributed Rajakaluvaes, allowing better water management. In contrast, the southern Dakshina Pinakini area experiences frequent flooding due to inadequate stormwater management, despite receiving more rainfall.
As we reflect on our city’s historical planning, it’s crucial to recognise that the real issue lies in urbanisation. The conversion of green spaces into built environments drastically alters the water cycle:
Bengaluru, filled with intricate and complex systems created by the builders of our city is now in our hands. While we are destroying it, intentionally or unintentionally, we have the power and responsibility to rejuvenate, restore, and revive our home to keep it safe for ourselves and future generations.
How “Natural” Is This Natural Disaster?
By Sarvani Balavari & Reyhan Happy
Flooding is viewed as a natural disaster by most experts, the literal definition being flooding is the inundation of water to a normally dry land.
For the past few days from the 15th of October, as we all know, Bengaluru has been under Amber Alert and facing floods. What if we told you that it's not always just nature at play?
If you look at Bengaluru’s history we have kind of never had a river or a main waterbody constantly flowing through us. One of our city’s great founders, Kempe Gowda, realised and saw this problem, he addressed it by designing and creating an interconnected system of man-made seasonal lakes!
Many of us don't fully understand the value of land used for water storage. While some admire the beauty, others see wasted space that could be developed to accommodate the city's rapidly growing population (which increased from 7 million in 2007 to 14 million in 2022).
This has caused the lakes of Bengaluru to go from around 1000 when they were constructed to a mere THIRTY-THREE. The significance of lakes is low after years of climate disaster, bad temperature control, dry weather including a water crisis, and now flooding.
But remember, it isn’t just the absence of lakes, it is also the absence of proper usage of the systems that do exist.
Rajakaluves. These stormwater drains are a part of the ingenious lake system, they are what connect the lakes! This 859.9 km vast network of Rajakaluves ensures that lakes don’t overflow and any water run-off from rain is drained and sent to lakes.
When these Rajakaluves are blocked with huge amounts of waste and are not cleared, it upsets that balance and the excess water has nowhere to go except onto the roads and into our houses.
Looking at the lack of lakes, blocked Rajakaluves, and our tar and concrete pavements that allow ZERO groundwater recharge, we wonder, how natural is this natural disaster?
Where Does Our Water Go?
By Vyomika Akula
Bengaluru faced a water crisis during the summer and now we are going through floods and have excess water. Where does all of this water go? Can it be stored and used?
Over-extraction of groundwater, limited recharge rates and a combination of multiple other factors caused the water crisis this summer. Climate change has also had its contribution to our drought and insufficient rainfall. Now the excess rainfall has created floods for our in Bengaluru. These urban floods have led to multiple issues in Bengaluru including traffic-filled roads, schools and colleges being shut down and many more. We suffer so much from this excess of water and in other months struggle for a single drop, so, where does this water go?
On a normal piece of land, when it rains, 85% of the water evaporates/transpires, 10% goes to run-off and 5-8% goes to recharge the groundwater, but when we build our buildings, only 5% of the water evaporates and 95% goes to run-off (which is what we experience as floods) and none of it goes to recharge. Because of this lack of recharge during the water crisis (and otherwise), the BWSSB ended up importing water from the Cauvery River.
So next time we face a water crisis, and we know we haven’t recharged our groundwater, be prepared to face expensive water tankers.
Our City, Our Responsibility
When Namma Uru Floods…
By Simran Jain
Have you noticed how the heavy rains are changing life in Bengaluru?
Bengaluru was known as the City of A Thousand Lakes and is now known as the Silicon Valley of India. Due to the various job opportunities available an influx of people starting to migrate into the city. The city was not ready and the planners were not ready to house so many people. Inorder to meet the needs, the city has buildings and infrastructure popping out from various spaces.Spaces where a few seasonal lakes once thrived, rajakaluves once lived have now become commercial spaces, tech hubs, and even residential spaces.
Now, when it rains rather than just lakes being filled, low-lying areas like Koramangala and Yelahanka flood badly. Families in these neighbourhoods often have water entering their homes, ruining their things and causing health issues with sewage mixing in. Many are even forced to leave their homes until the water goes down.
According to a recent article in Deccan Herald, over 50 areas and 140 homes in Bengaluru have been flooded. But what about the people not counted in these reports—the ones in slums, or those who work as delivery drivers or day labourers? For them, floods mean losing their belongings, health risks, and even their jobs. Many are daily wage workers or migrants who depend on their jobs for survival, but flooding disrupts work, pushing them further into poverty.
As a city, we need to come together, plan our city better and account for everyone that lives, works and depends on the city.
Bengaluru Water and Changing Culture Cycles
By Samriddhi Tiwari
Bengaluru experienced heavy rains at the beginning of October this year. The water started collecting and stayed stagnant in the spaces of the city, causing flooding. Because of this schools were given declared holidays by the Bengaluru Urban District Commissioner.
Historically how did communities in Bengaluru responded to rains? What was the connotation of rain and is it different today? Today the connotation of rain is related to the spread of illnesses, unsafe, and frustrations over the traffic. But what was Bengaluru like before the rain, holidays and traffic jams?
Bengaluru was known as a city of a thousand lakes, it was built with a system designed to capture and store the water which would be used for drinking and agriculture. Communities worked together to maintain the lakes. Culturally rains were celebrated in Karnataka, Kaveri Sankrama is a festival which celebrates monsoons because monsoons are crucial for the farming communities.
Over time the connotation of rains has shifted from sustaining life and celebration to frustration.
How Can We Solve This Mess
Ancient Solutions to Modern Issues
By Abhinav Jandhyala
Strategies to survive and overcome a multitude of disasters – natural or man-made – which we search ever so desperately for are right under our noses! Indigenous knowledge provides valuable approaches to tackling floods among other natural disasters.
For tens and thousands of years, indigenous peoples have dealt with climate change and have built various systems and developed numerous methods that can be applied in our current situation as well.
According to recent studies, the primordial approach to dealing with such disasters works much better than modern technology. A case study shows that indigenous methods are more eco-friendly and effective when compared to modern methods.
For example, Bengaluru, our city (as most of us call it), was once a city of over a thousand lakes! Ever wondered why?
Bengaluru’s geographical location is something that makes water hard to access by the city. This is because it doesn’t have a natural river flowing through it, so the lakes were dug as an important source for water. Communities thrived by using these lakes, and worked together to maintain it.
Most of the lakes of Bengaluru are seasonal, so they are filled up in some seasons and dry-out in the other seasons. When the lakes are not filled, and there is infrastructure built on it, it can cause mayhem, i.e. water-logging.
At Sparkling Mindz, we are trying to analyse this issue to rejuvenate lakes as they are essential to most life in Bengaluru. We are researching various methods to best rejuvenate and ensure these lakes thrive. One specific example where this was done was the Jakkur Lake in northern Bengaluru, the Jakkur-Sampigehalli Lake Citizen Group, Jala Poshan, supported the rejuvenation of the lake.
These native methods, that were put in place, do work. We just need to keep our eyes open, and come together as a community to solve this issue because this is our city, Bengaluru, so let’s take care of it together!
A Smoother Road to Bengaluru’s Future
By Sabareesh Ram Radhakrishnan
Bengaluru is known for its rage-inducing roads…but did you know that roads can help solve these floods that the city is plagued by?
You may be wondering how these roads will help with the problem
Making these roads permeable by letting go of water through the road surface can help solve the issue of flooding. It can also purify the water going into the ground. These permeable roads can enable us to reduce the surface temperature which makes the city cooler.
However, making these roads can be more expensive and hard to maintain. The roads are also dependent on the soil quality
The money they save compared to a white-topping road can be more as the renovations and repairs for white-topping roads cost way more.
In conclusion, these permeable roads can be expensive initially and are hard to manage but can save money in the long run, help in the clearance of water, and can also purify the water and make the city cooler making permeable roads potentially a road that the government can consider to make the city a better place.
Conclusion
Our research and findings have shed light on the pressing root issues that our beloved city faces. We have big aspirations, but our towering skyscrapers are being built on fragile foundations. As children of the city, we have a voice, a right and a responsibility towards the future of Bengaluru. Join us in this journey of crafting a better future for our city!
Documented by 9th and 10th graders, and YoDAs of Sparkling Mindz Global School.
#ChildInTheCity
#LearningThatMatters
#BengaluruFloods
#ChildrenAsChangemakers
#UrbanFlooding
#SparklingMindzResearch
#CityOfLakesRevival
#ChildrenForChange
#FutureOfBengaluru
#SustainableBengaluru
Citations -
1. Verma, A. (2020, November 6). Bengaluru’s traffic nightmare during floods: IISc study shows policy measures can help. Citizen Matters. https://citizenmatters.in/bengaluru-floods-traffic-speed-trip-cancellation-policy-solutions/
2. Srikantaiah, V. (2017, October 17). Mitigating rain and floods in Bengaluru needs holistic approach. Citizen Matters. https://citizenmatters.in/flood-rain-water-management-bangalore/
3. B.Pac. (2024, March 22). Bengaluru water crisis: Causes, solutions & hope. B.PAC. https://bpac.in/bengaluru-water-crisis-causes-solutions/
4. User, S. (n.d.). What causes floods? https://nemo.gov.vc/nemo/index.php/hazards/flooding/265-what-causes-flood
5. Mirror, B. (2022, April 22). Bengaluru’s rajakaluves are in dire need of attention. Bangalore Mirror. https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bengalurus-rajakaluves-are-in-dire-need-of-attention/articleshow/90987623.cms
6. The Lost Lakes of Bangalore. (2020, October 13). Environment & Society Portal. https://www.environmentandsociety.org/arcadia/lost-lakes-bangalore
7. Bosky Khanna, & Bosky Khanna. (2024, October 15). Bengaluru Urban DC declares holiday for schools due to heavy rain. The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2024/Oct/15/bengaluru-urban-dc-declares-holiday-for-schools-due-to-heavy-rain
8. Bangalore, India Metro Area Population 1950-2024. (n.d.). MacroTrends. https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/21176/bangalore/population#:~:text=The%20metro%20area%20population%20of,a%203.55%25%20increase%20from%202020
9. Bengaluru topographic map, elevation, terrain. (n.d.). Topographic Maps. https://en-in.topographic-map.com/map-6b7b3/Bengaluru/?center=12.98798%2C77.70575&zoom=10
10. Citizen Matters. (n.d.). Bengaluru rainfall and climate change: Key findings from KSNMDC study. Citizen Matters. https://citizenmatters.in/bengaluru-rainfall-climate-change-ksndmc-study/
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