My story: 6 hours in Bengaluru floods & how good samaritans helped me

With full throttle there I go, went on and on till middle, alas, it started stalling and stopped right in the middle. Water started guzzling into the car and myself and kid were literally sitting in water.

BHPian balenoed_ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I  recently had one of the most adventurous day of my life. Took the maximum brunt of today's flooding in front of Eco Space and that costed me 6 hours. Nevertheless, considering this as some good lessons.

I knew the situation is going to be bad in front of eco and started 30 mins earlier to handle that for a routine school drop. Little did I knew that the situation would turn so bad in the next few minutes and will be stuck badly.

Started at 07:45am and had to abort the school drop, crossed the Eco space river, Took Koramangala-Domlur route back to Marathahalli. A U-Turn after Eco would mean I have to cross the river again. Instead went all around Domlur and back to Marathahalli. A six hour ordeal, worth a travelogue in itself.

• 07:45 - Marathahalli
• 08:00 - Kadubeesanahalli flyover
• (4hrs 30 mins on top of the flyover)
• 12:30: Approached Eco Space river and river crossing
• 02:00: Koramangala, Sony world, Domlur, HAL, Marathahalli

After starting from Marathahalli, it was stand still on the flyover for hours while the left most lane was moving slowly.

It was at around 12pm we all realized that the water levels are thigh high. And whoever ready to cross has to stick to left most lane. All those who are not crossing are sitting on the middle and right lane, and that is why we weren't moving. Several autos and smaller vehicles who did not want to cross were blocking these lanes at the front. This was known only once we reached closer.

Now it was a decision to be made, whether to cross or be here for whatever uncertain time. Decided to take the risk and jumped over the bollards to the left lane.

Now this started moving and reached the river crossing point. There are people organizing this river crossing event and will warn you and ask if I you really ready to cross it. Once you say yes, they will make you ready to start with some instructions on what to do and what not to do.

Ready to go! It was like sending those gladiators to the Colosseum for a battle. They see you off there. I simply wanted to try this and see whether my Baleno gets through this. One by one people on the left lane are flagged off. Middle lane and right lane plus several people on the skywalk will curiously watch how you are going to make it.

With full throttle there I go, went on and on till middle, alas, it started stalling and stopped right in the middle. Water started guzzling into the car and myself and kid were literally sitting in water. Things kept on center console started floating inside. There passes a big bus beside us which sent large waves and that kept us floating for a second. The car started to float and was tending to change direction in that wave, but got back to ground once that wave settled.

Saviours came, two people who were helping out people there. They gave a helping hand, one of them did something on the exhaust, guess he blocked it to not let water go inside and asked me to crank. I did for sometime and the car started. With some pushing, the car started to move and then I went on again with full throttle and somehow pushed through it. The skywalk turned to be a gallery for people to watch all these shows and there were people waving and cheering up. It was one heck of a moment.

One out of 3 cars was stuck. Saw a BMW stuck too and I am not sure what consequences he has to face now. Once crossed, there was pile up of vehicles which weren't starting. I have no clue when those people on the other side will ever make it. So sorry for all who are caught in this.

Luckily for me, the Baleno was still holding strong. Didn't want to take a U-turn because that means coming back through this same thing again. So went around Koramangala, Domlur and reached back Marathahalli. With a large puddle of water inside the car. Drained it up and kept for drying. All in all, just another reason that I love this car. With the car stepping into its 19th year, it never ceases to amaze me. Not sure if any clutch is left in it though!

What a day!

For a change, I am considering today's incidence as a fun, what otherwise would have been a mother of all rant.

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