May 16: Parts of the city plunged into darkness on Sunday as Bengaluru was hit by a ‘storm’ that killed two people, unprooted scores of trees, and pulled down electric and telephone cables.

Several vehicles were damaged and traffic came to a standstill as a heavy downpour accompanied by gale like winds, blowing at the speed of 70 kmph, hit the city. The rain once again exposed total lack of preparedness of the civic authorities in tackling rain related exigencies. While 48-year-old Ramakrishna slipped and fell into a drain in Venkatappa Layout in Hosakerehalli, Anjanamma, 40, was crushed under a compound wall.

According to Girinagar police, Ramakrishna failed to see the overflowing drain and slipped and fell inside. “A search is on for the body,” a police officer said. Anjanamma was clearing the branches near her house in Ullalu Basti in Tavarekere police limits when the compound wall collapsed and fell on her.

Bengalureans could only watch in helplessness as the strong wind uprooted trees, electric and telephone cables leaving them powerless. “We have been waiting for the last six hours for the power lines to be fixed. But there are no officials in sight. Electric cables have fallen on the road but neither the police nor BBMP have prevented vehicles from plying there,” said an Indiranagar resident.

Almost 60 fully grown trees were uprooted across the city mostly in Rajajinagar and Indiranagar. Four trees fell on Kasturba Road blocking traffic for over an hour in the central business district. “We are doing our best to clear the trees and electric poles. But it is a long and tedious process. The operation will continue through the night,” said a BBMP official.