Karnataka - Bangalore

Rain dampens spirits

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Smooth drive: The usually busy Yeshwanthpur underpass in Bangalore looked deserted on Friday morning. Inclement weather and the holiday declared by the State Government following the death of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh led to people choosing to stay indoors.

Bangalore: Winter rain in the past four days has dampened the general atmosphere in the city.

There was some relief for people on Friday as they remained indoors because of the holiday declared by the State Government owing to the death of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh.

“It would have been better if it was not raining in spells. Just the cold would be fine,” says Maria J., an undergraduate student.

“Also, it is psychologically proven that cold weather does not make you want to work,” she says.

Psychology apart, the weather combined with the holiday made Friday look like a Sunday, decrease in traffic and closed shops contributing to it.

G. Prakash, a young banker, whose office is on Brigade Road said he was able to park his vehicle close to the workplace. He generally parks his car on Rest House Road or Lavelle Road. “But the rain makes one want to go home,” he said. “It will be a boring weekend if it continues to rain, ” Mr. Prakash said. Others such as Ashvin Kumar prefer driving in this weather and do not mind the odd spell of rain.

“I reached my office in Sarjapur much earlier than I generally do,” he said.

Petty shop owners and tea vendors complained of poor business. The number of customers at bigger commercial establishments that were open on Brigade Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road was lower than the usual. However, roadside vendors selling “mirchi bajji” and other fried snacks did brisk business.

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