Bengaluru was hit by a sudden spell of heavy rain, strong winds and hail on Wednesday evening, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures after days of intense heat that had pushed the mercury to around 37°C.
The city quickly transitioned from dry, scorching conditions to widespread waterlogging within hours.
Major roads submerged, traffic brought to a halt
Several parts of the city, including Richmond Town and Shanthinagar, were severely affected as waist-deep water flooded streets and residential pockets.
Commuters faced long delays as traffic movement slowed to a crawl across key junctions, with many roads becoming nearly impassable.
The impact of the downpour was also felt in prominent government structures.
Bengaluru today evening witnessed about 6 cm of rain and hailstone in 30 minutes. The storm caused the Bowring Hospital compound to collapse, killing at least 7 people. Ashok Nagar’s Catholic Club looked like Kashmir covered in ice.#Bengalururains#Rain #Hailstorm pic.twitter.com/UzSLmjEINx
— ರಮೇಶ ದೊಡ್ಡಪುರ Ramesha Doddapura (@rameshapm) April 29, 2026
Water reportedly entered corridors inside the Vidhana Soudha, while the office of Opposition leader R. Ashoka also experienced flooding, highlighting the intensity of the rainfall across central Bengaluru.
Wall collapse near hospital kills seven
Tragedy struck during the storm when a compound wall at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital collapsed.
Seven people lost their lives in the incident, including a six-year-old girl.
According to officials, several of the victims had taken shelter near the wall when it gave way amid strong winds and rain.
Seven others were injured and were rushed to hospital, with authorities confirming that their condition is stable.
Chief Minister announces compensation
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed the death toll and said all injured individuals were out of danger.
He directed hospitals to provide free treatment to the victims and announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh for the families of those who died.
Widespread damage reported across city
Across Bengaluru, at least 50 incidents of fallen trees were reported, affecting areas such as Malleswaram, Shanthinagar and Seshadripuram.
Civic teams have been deployed to clear debris and restore normalcy as the city continues to deal with the aftermath of the sudden storm.