Centre lacks data on Bengaluru flood impact, reveals RTI

BENGALURU: Two years after devastating floods submerged large parts of Bengaluru, the central government appears to have no consolidated data on the impact of the deluge on the city. A Right to Information (RTI) query filed by a city-based activist has revealed that no central ministry maintains comprehensive records on the extent of damage, number of affected families, or financial losses caused by the 2024 floods.

The response, obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), states that flood impact assessment is primarily a state subject and that the Centre only steps in during relief and rescue operations. This has sparked concerns among urban planners and disaster management experts who argue that lack of central data hampers long-term mitigation efforts.

RTI reveals vacuum in flood data

The RTI application, filed in March this year, sought details on the total area affected, number of wards impacted, and the quantum of central assistance released for Bengaluru's flood recovery. The response, received in June, said the information is "not maintained centrally" and directed the applicant to the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).

However, the KSDMA's own data, shared in separate responses, is fragmented and largely based on district-level reports submitted during the emergency. Activists say this patchwork approach makes it impossible to assess the true scale of urban flooding in a city that has rapidly expanded into low-lying areas and lake beds.

Why central data matters

Disaster management experts point out that without a central repository of flood impact data, the process of allocating funds for mitigation and infrastructure upgrades becomes opaque. "When the Centre doesn't have a clear picture, it cannot prioritise funding for drainage improvements, lake restoration, or early warning systems," said a retired professor of urban studies at a Bengaluru university, who did not wish to be named.

The lack of data also affects insurance claims and compensation for residents, many of whom are still waiting for payouts from the previous floods. In 2024, the city received 211 mm of rainfall in a single day, the highest in over a century, causing waterlogging in several IT corridors and residential layouts.

State and Centre point fingers

Karnataka officials argue that the state has submitted detailed memorandums to the Centre seeking assistance, but the onus of maintaining a national database lies with the NDMA. "We have provided all the information we have. If the Centre hasn't compiled it, that is their internal issue," a senior KSDMA official said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has maintained that disaster response is a state subject under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and that the Centre's role is limited to providing logistical and financial support once a state declares a calamity. This bureaucratic standoff has left citizens in the dark about the true cost of the floods and the progress of recovery.

Concerns over future preparedness

With climate change making extreme rainfall events more frequent, urban planners warn that the absence of reliable data will only worsen future crises. "Bengaluru is not alone. Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad face similar risks. The Centre needs to take a lead in creating a standardised framework for urban flood data collection," said a researcher at a Bengaluru-based think tank.

The RTI applicant, who has chosen to remain anonymous, says he plans to file a first appeal with the Central Information Commission, seeking a more substantive response. He argues that the public has a right to know how much damage was done and what steps are being taken to prevent a repeat.

As the monsoon season peaks again, residents in low-lying areas remain anxious. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has announced several stormwater drain desilting projects, but without central oversight, there is little accountability.

Observers say the next few months could prove critical. If the Central Information Commission directs the ministries to compile the data, it could set a precedent for other flood-prone cities. Until then, Bengaluru's flood history remains a story told in fragments.