A 22-year-old Infosys employee visiting Bangalore with her family drowned on Sunday when their car got stuck in neck-deep water at an underpass a stone’s throw from the Vidhana Soudha after sudden rain.

Fire and emergency services personnel, helped by local residents, saved five members of the family and the driver.

All seven passengers were taken to St Martha’s Hospital where doctors declared the young woman, identified as Bhanurekha, dead.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah visited the hospital and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to her next of kin and free treatment for the survivors.

“The family from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh had hired a car and come to see Bangalore. Bhanurekha worked in Infosys. Due to the downpour, the barricade at the underpass fell down and the driver took the risk of crossing the underpass, which he should not have,” Siddaramaiah said.

Witnesses said the driver tried to zoom through the water, but in the middle of the underpass the car almost got submerged. The passengers came out, frantically trying to save themselves.

Rescue operations under way after the car got stuck in the waterlogged underpass following heavy rain in Bangalore on Sunday. PTI picture

Amid the downpour and hailstorm, the water level started increasing. As the family started crying for help, people nearby rushed to their rescue.

They threw saris and ropes to help them stay afloat. Those trapped tried to climb up but failed. While two of them were dragged out by swimmers of the emergency services personnel, others were brought out using a ladder.

An autorickshaw was trapped at KR Circle and a woman passenger climbed on top of the vehicle before rescuers saved her.

Many complained that the spot in the heart of Bangalore gets flooded whenever there is heavy rainfall.