Bengaluru: Every drop of rain is a warning bell at Sai Layout. For Neelufur Ahmed, 45, the oldest resident of the area, rainfall no longer brings relief — only dread. “For many, rain is a blessing — for us, it’s a nightmare,” she said, standing at the entrance of her flooded street Monday morning, scanning the half-submerged homes.Sai Layout, off Horamavu-Agara Road in north Bengaluru, is no stranger to flooding. But this year’s pre-monsoon deluge has left it worse off than ever, say residents, with water rising to waist level, submerging vehicles and creeping into homes. For over a decade, residents have raised concerns, but no permanent fix has been found. “Earlier, the water would drain away. Now, it stays longer and rises faster,” Neelufur said, recalling how her car and bike suffered damage running up to Rs 50,000 just last year — and again, this week.When TOI visited Monday, cars, bikes, and autorickshaws in the layout were submerged, and a sofa was seen floating in the water. Several residents evacuated on Sunday, anticipating more flooding after Saturday’s rain. Families with infants and elderly members were among the first to leave. But many others, like Neelufur, stayed behind, helping neighbours and awaiting rescue. “My husband is stuck inside. My father is in the ICU, but I can’t go see him,” she said.Rescue teams began operations early Monday, with around 70 personnel from the State Disaster Response Force and the fire and emergency department, and nine boats deployed. Rescue teams ferried people from one end to another, helping them cross the flooded layout. They supplied water and food to all those stranded inside houses. Yapu Daknyo, a nurse, couldn’t get to work. “Last year, I stayed with my cousin. This time I planned to shift during monsoon — I didn’t expect flooding in May,” she said.The cost of recovery is high. “We spend at least Rs 50,000-60,000 every year cleaning up. This can’t continue. There’s no food, no water, and delivery apps cancelled orders,” said Abdul Farrid Khan, another resident. “…Working with a private firm, I don’t even have the privilege of taking a lot of leave. Our vehicles are gone, sumps, tanks are gone… We can’t even go out and see what the scene is. There are elders and kids staying… this is just a miserable situation for us, it can’t be explained.“Haritha, a student, returned from an exam to find her street flooded. “This is our first year in Sai Layout. I’m already horrified,” she said. She made it home with help from a tractor.