Good morning, Bengaluru!
🌧️ Today’s weather: High: 29 ℃ | Low: 22 ℃ | Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.
🧐 Did you know? Terminal 2 of Bengaluru airport spans 255,661 square meters and can handle 25 million passengers annually.
🦟 Dengue cases surge in Bengaluru
Dengue cases in Bengaluru have risen by 59% from January to May compared to the same period last year, with 932 cases reported so far in 2024.
Data and trends: BBMP attributes the increase to improved case reporting. While 2023 saw 583 cases, 2020 recorded the highest with 2,076 cases in the same period. Experts criticise BBMP’s handling of the outbreak, suggesting a community-driven approach rather than a top-down method.
- Public health expert Dr Onkita Adhikari recommends a 5P model: past information, predictability, prevention, promptness, and people-to-palike.
- BBMP Special Commissioner Suralkar Vikash Kishor attributes the rise to better surveillance and reporting.
Prevention measures: Adhikari emphasises using past data and AI predictions for preparedness, community sensitisation, and proactive destruction of mosquito breeding grounds, especially before monsoon showers.
🛬 New entry fees at Bengaluru airport
Starting May 20, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) will impose entry fees on both private and commercial vehicles accessing Kempegowda International Airport.
Fee structure: Commercial vehicles (yellow board) will be charged ₹150 for up to 7 minutes and ₹300 beyond that. Private vehicles (white board) will pay ₹150 for stays between 7 to 14 minutes. Buses will be charged ₹600, and tempo travellers ₹300, entering through Lane 3.
- The fees apply to vehicles accessing arrival pick-up lanes at Terminal 1 and 2.
- The introduction of these fees aims to improve traffic flow and enhance security measures.
Passenger impact: There is concern about whether cab aggregators will pass on the extra fees to passengers. The sudden implementation without prior notice caused chaos at the airport on May 20.
⛈️ Thunderstorms predicted for Bengaluru
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate thunderstorms with gusty winds for Bengaluru and surrounding areas until May 24.
Weekend weather and impact: Over the weekend, Bengaluru experienced cool, wet weather with light to moderate rain. The city recorded 17.8mm of rain, while the HAL airport recorded 37.6mm. Heavy rainfall led to the uprooting of 15 trees and numerous branches, causing traffic congestion in several areas. BBMP officials inspected areas prone to flash floods to ensure clear drainage.
- An orange alert has been issued for Coastal and South Interior Karnataka districts.
- The showers are attributed to cyclonic circulation over south interior Tamil Nadu.
Weather outlook: Bengaluru will continue to see cloudy skies and occasional rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 29°C.
🍲 Atria Foundation’s mobile food banks
The Atria Foundation has launched a mobile food bank initiative, “Love All,” to provide free meals to those in need in Bengaluru, starting near Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Gandhinagar.
Program details: Since March 31, around 300 people, including daily wage earners and the unemployed, have received free lunches daily. With the initiative’s success, two more mobile food banks will launch near St Martha’s Hospital and Gosha Hospital.
- The initiative, led by Atria Group Managing Director C. Sunder Raju, aims to have 300 mobile food banks by 2025.
- Leftover food from hotels and military centres is also collected and distributed.
Community impact: Volunteers ensure cleanliness, and the BBMP Solid Waste Management Department supports waste disposal. The initiative began during the lockdown and has grown significantly, highlighting community-driven efforts to combat hunger.
📊 Today’s Poll
(Only subscribers can participate in the polls)
Have you ever travelled in a helicopter?
- I have travelled in a helicopter.
- I haven’t travelled in a helicopter.
❓ Today’s Question
(Only subscribers can submit their answers)
How do you commute to your office?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- Inscriptions indicate that Bengaluru was an education hub in the past.
- Property tax dues in Bengaluru have exceeded ₹700 crore, prompting BBMP to warn defaulters.
- BWSSB’s AI chatbot provides information about water supply and disruptions.
- Ramakrishna Nagar in Bengaluru continues to experience flooding after 12 years.
- Mobil 1 has partnered with RPPL to bring racing to the streets of Bengaluru.
🛋️ Local Lounge
Yesterday’s Poll:
- RCB will win the IPL this time: 50.0% 🏆
- RCB won’t win the IPL this time: 50.0% 🏆
That’s it for today. Have a great day!