Bengaluru’s Panathur Railway Underbridge was inundated after brief rain on Friday, leaving a white sedan stranded in rapidly rising water and prompting members of the public to rescue the occupant. No injuries were reported, according to officials cited by news agency ANI in a report carried by the Times of India.
Visuals shared on social media showed the car partially submerged, with floodwater reaching nearly up to its windows. The vehicle stalled midway through the underpass after the driver was caught off guard by the speed at which the water level rose.
Members of the public rushed to the spot, helped the stranded occupant to safety and pushed the stalled car to higher ground, officials said. The incident was recorded and circulated online, drawing criticism of the authorities over waterlogging at the underbridge.
The Panathur underpass is located about 2 km from Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road and serves as a link between the technology corridor and residential areas including Varthur, Balagere and Whitefield. Waterlogging at the underpass during rain has been a concern for commuters using the route.
A social media account that posted visuals of the incident said the underbridge remained unfit for all-weather use despite about a decade having passed. The claim was cited by ANI in its report and was not independently elaborated on in the available account.
The latest incident has renewed attention on the safety of underpasses in Bengaluru, where rapidly accumulating water can leave vehicles immobilised within minutes. In May 2023, a 22-year-old woman, Bhanurekha, from Andhra Pradesh drowned after the car in which she was travelling with her family became stuck in floodwater at the KR Circle underpass near Vidhana Soudha.
The Panathur incident comes as the underbridge continues to carry traffic between major employment and residential zones in eastern Bengaluru. Officials cited in the report confirmed the rescue and said no injuries occurred. Further details on drainage measures or planned remedial work at the underpass were not available in the supplied report.
