NEW DELHI: The heavy rainfall, which is among the heaviest in nearly four decades, has crippled the lives of people in Kolkata, shutting down transport modes, institutions, and forcing the state to declare puja holidays two days in advance. Overnight rainfall that began past midnight caused roads to submerge, leading to water entering numerous houses and residential complexes in the city. The city is preparing for further downpours as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy rain to several south Bengal districts.
Eight people die of electrocution
Eight people due to electrocution and bringing life in the metropolis to a grinding halt as large swathes were submerged, transport services crippled, and traffic movement thrown out of gear. “At least eight persons have died due to electrocution, as per our reports so far,” a senior official of Kolkata police said.
Mamata blames dredging, CESC
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee described the downpour as “unprecedented”, blaming poor dredging of the Farakka barrage and lapses by private power utility CESC for the deaths, while appealing to people to stay indoors. “I have never seen rain like this. I heard 7–8 people have died due to electrocution by open or unattended wires. It is so unfortunate… Their families must all be given jobs by the CESC. I am saying this clearly,” Banerjee told a Bengali news channel. Squarely blaming the utility, she said, “Electricity is supplied by CESC, not us. It is their duty to ensure people do not suffer because of this. They will do business here, but not modernise here? They should send people to the field and fix this.”
Will inaugurate Durga Puja virtually: Mamata Banerjee
CM Mamata Banerjee, looking at the situation, has decided to not attend the Durga puja inauguration instead se will go virtually. In a post on X, the West Bengal CM said, ” I will not attend any Durga Puja inaugurations in Kolkata today. Pujas in the districts will be inaugurated virtually. Everyone must remain very cautious over the next few days.” She also shared the control room numbers and said that it has been opened at Nabanna. Phone numbers: +91-33-22143526 / +91-33-22535185. In addition, toll-free number: +91-8697981070.
Sixth highest single-day rainfall in last 117 years
The deluge—251.4 mm in less than 24 hours—was the highest since 1988 and the sixth highest single-day rainfall in the last 117 years, only behind the record 369.6 mm in 1978 and 253 mm in 1988. It turned arterial roads into rivers, snapping Metro and train services and throwing air travel into disarray as the city gasped for normalcy ahead of Durga Puja next week.The IMD said the rainfall intensity was highest in south and east Kolkata. Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm in a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm) and Ballygunge (264 mm). North Kolkata’s Thanthania recorded 195 mm.
30 flights cancelled, metro services hit
At least 30 flights has been cancelled and significant delays in several others, officials said. At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, multiple flights were grounded due to adverse weather conditions, with authorities citing incessant rains and restricted visibility as key safety concerns.”At least 30 flights have been cancelled so far, and 31 others have been delayed,” an official of Kolkata Airport said.The situation was exacerbated by the suspension of Kolkata Metro services on a significant stretch of the Blue Line, with stations in flooded areas remaining closed.Metro services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations since morning, with truncated runs only on the Dakshineswar–Maidan stretch. Eastern Railway halted movement in the Sealdah south section, while skeletal services were attempted in the north and main sections. Circular Railway services were suspended due to waterlogging at Chitpur yard. Air travel was also hit hard.
State govt declares Puja vacations in schools two days in advance
The West Bengal government on Tuesday declared Puja holidays in state-run education institutions two days ahead of schedule. State education minister Bratya Basu announced that all govt-run education institutions would remain closed on September 24 and 25. “An unprecedented calamity-like situation prevails in the state. In keeping with the advice of the chief minister to offer relief to our students in the current situation and to pre-empt accidents, it has been decided to keep all education institutions closed tomorrow and the day after, that is, on September 24 and 25,” Basu wrote on X. Basu requested that during this calamity, all teachers and non-teaching staff attached to the education sector work from home to complete their urgent and unfinished tasks. “Since the Durga Puja holidays are scheduled to start from September 26, effectively the vacation will start from tomorrow (Wednesday). I wish all happy Pujas. My deepest condolences remain with the next of kin of my fellow citizens who lost their lives in this calamity,” the minister added.
Political slugfest breaks out between BJP and TMC
The flooding triggered a political dispute on social media between the BJP, the state’s main opposition, and its ruling dispensation, the Trinamool Congress. The saffron party posted pictures and videos of waterlogged Kolkata streets on its social media accounts, accusing the TMC-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation of indulging in corruption. In response, the ruling party criticised the BJP for “weaponising pain to spread hate.” A post on the X handle of the BJP’s Bengal unit, referring to a video of the thoroughly waterlogged Maniktala area in north Kolkata, stated: “Durga Pujo celebrations are starting this week. Yet, due to Kolkata’s extremely poor drainage system, Puja pandals are submerged under water. Years of anarchy under the CPI(M) and nearly 15 years of corruption in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation under TMC have forced Bengalis to suffer even during their biggest festival, Durga Puja.” Another BJP post, featuring a video clip of the inundated Science City area in eastern Kolkata, equated the public distress to a “lack of business” in the state. The post read: “See the condition of Kolkata around Science City. This is one of the state’s highly acclaimed and posh regions that houses a few organisations. If such is the condition of civil lives, how can anyone think about living a sustainable life in Kolkata? How can any organisation further have the intent to invest? This is a breakdown of civil order.”
CU, JU suspend academic activities due to heavy rains
Calcutta University (CU) and Jadavpur University (JU) suspended all academic activities on Tuesday as torrential overnight rain paralysed normal life in Kolkata. In a statement, the CU Registrar said that due to heavy overnight rain and waterlogging in different parts of Kolkata, the scheduled semester exams in various subjects for Tuesday (September 23) have been cancelled. “The dates when the exams will be held will be announced later,” the notice said. JU, in a notice, stated that due to heavy downpour on Monday midnight and early Tuesday, all academic activities are being suspended for the day.
IMD warns of more heavy rain
The weather office has warned of more heavy rain in Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura districts till Wednesday. Another fresh low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal around September 25.”This rain is so unusual. Even our homes are submerged. I feel bad for the Pujo pandals as well. Schools have been asked to remain shut and office-goers advised to stay home today and tomorrow,” Banerjee said, adding she was in constant touch with the Mayor, Chief Secretary and police.
Several places inundated under knee-deep water and traffic paralysed
For lakhs of residents, Tuesday dawned to a city under siege by water. In south Kolkata’s Garia and Jodhpur Park, residents stepped out of homes to find knee-to-waist-deep water in living rooms, ground floors and shops. Many frantically shifted furniture to upper floors, while traders at Gariahat and College Street tried in vain to salvage soaked stocks of books, garments and electronics. Motorcycles and cars bobbed like abandoned boats, buses broke down mid-way and commuters trudged barefoot through filthy floodwaters clutching their belongings over their heads. “I had to walk nearly three kilometres in waist-deep water from Lake Gardens to Rashbehari Avenue. I don’t know how I will get back home,” said office-goer Rupa Chatterjee. Those stranded in app cabs complained of exorbitant surge fares, while many others waited for hours in vain at bus stops. “Autos refused to ply, cabs demanded Rs 600 for a ride that usually costs Rs 150. We were left helpless,” said a commuter at Park Circus. Mayor and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim admitted that most parts of the city were waterlogged despite continuous pumping by civic teams. “The canals and rivers are full of water and every time water is drained out, more comes inside the city. The situation may not improve until after tonight’s low tide,” he said. Go to Source
