Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Heavy rain in the evening is suspected to have caused a wall at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru to collapse, with seven people feared dead. Initial reports suggest both street vendors and pedestrians may be among those trapped or killed.
According to early information, some of the victims had been running small businesses from pushcarts along the footpath near the hospital. Others are believed to have been walking past the spot when the structure suddenly gave way in the downpour.
A wall collapse at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru during heavy rain and wind reportedly killed six people, including street vendors and pedestrians seeking shelter.
Bowring Hospital wall collapse: eyewitness accounts and rescue work
Witnesses said an old boundary wall had a large tarpaulin fixed to it, under which vendors operated. When the rain intensified, traders and pedestrians reportedly gathered beneath the sheet for cover. The wall then collapsed during strong winds and heavy showers, eyewitnesses told local officials.
People nearby are said to have started rescue efforts immediately after the Bowring Hospital wall collapse, pulling some individuals from the debris before emergency teams arrived. Authorities are still confirming the exact number of casualties and identities of those affected.
Speaking to reporters, Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad told that seven people have died while seven more are injured. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited hospital and met the survivors.
Following the Bowring Hospital wall collapse, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured free treatment for the injured. The death toll has risen to eight, including two children, prompting the government to order an inquiry by the Executive Engineer to determine the cause of the incident. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said he would visit the site and take necessary action after assessing the situation.
Bengaluru witnessed a dramatic spell of weather on Tuesday evening, with intense rain, gusty winds and even hailstorms reported from several parts of the city, while other areas remained surprisingly dry.
Local updates from across neighbourhoods painted a sharply contrasting picture. Areas like Sarjapura saw continuous heavy rain for nearly an hour, with residents describing it as “non-stop” and intense. Similarly, Kumbalgodu and Ramohalli in southwest Bengaluru reported strong showers accompanied by stormy conditions.
In central Bengaluru, stretches around MG Road and Residency Road experienced sudden bursts of rain, with visuals showing waterlogged streets and strong winds sweeping through busy corridors.
Adding to the intensity, some pockets even reported hailstorms. One resident said they reached home from the airport “just two minutes before the hailstorm,” highlighting how quickly conditions escalated.
However, not all parts of the city shared the same experience. Localities such as Gottigere and Anjanapura saw little to no rainfall, with some residents jokingly calling their areas “deserts” as dark clouds passed without showers.
Weather observers described the evening as a “delirious storm,” underlining the highly localised and unpredictable nature of pre-monsoon activity in Bengaluru.
Early indications suggest that similar weather patterns could continue over the next 24 hours, with another round of thunderstorms likely, though possibly with slightly lower intensity. A brief pause in rainfall activity may follow after May 1, according to initial assessments.
The sudden shift from clear skies to intense storms once again highlights Bengaluru’s increasingly erratic weather patterns, where neighbouring areas can experience completely different conditions within minutes.
