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Kolkata faced its heaviest rain since 1986, killing at least 10, disrupting transport, flooding homes, and impacting Durga Puja preparations.
Heavy rains lashed across the capital of West Bengal, ahead of the Durga Puja festivities in the state. (PTI)
Kolkata Rain Fury: At least 10 people died as torrential rainfall lashed parts of Kolkata overnight and left large parts of the city and adjoining districts inundated on Tuesday. The heavy downpour brought the city to a standstill as it disrupted air, rail, and road transport, shut educational institutions, and prompted the state government to advance Puja holidays.
The deluge – 251.4 mm in less than 24 hours – was the highest since 1986 and sixth-highest single-day rainfall in the last 137 years, only behind the record 369.6 mm in 1978, 253 mm in 1888.
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On Tuesday, the maximum hourly rainfall of 98 mm was recorded between 3 am and 4 am, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, clarifying that it does not satisfy the cloudburst criteria.
According to the IMD, rainfall exceeding 100 mm in an hour over a 20 to 30 sq km area is defined as a cloudburst.
10 Died In Rain-related Incidents
At least 10 people were killed, nine of them due to electrocution, as torrential overnight rain — the heaviest in nearly four decades — battered the metropolis and adjoining districts.
According to the Kolkata Police, one of the deceased was identified as 60-year-old Jitendra Singh, who got electrocuted at Hossain Shah Road at nearly 5.15 am today.
Others who lost their lives were identified as Firoz Ali Khan (50) of Beniapukur, Pranatosh Kundu (62) of Netaji Nagar, and Mumtaz Bibi (70) of Ekbalpur.
CM Mamata Banerjee Condoles Loss Of Lives
The West Bengal Chief Minister expressed grief over the deaths of people who lost their lives due to an electrocution incident following the cloudburst. She said that she has never seen such a downpour.
“I have never seen rain like this. I feel so bad for the people who have lost their lives in the cloudburst. I have told schools to give a holiday today, and even office-goers should not come to work. Even tomorrow, you should not come,” Banerjee said.
“I heard 7-8 people have died due to electrocution. It is so unfortunate that people have lost their lives. Their families must all be given jobs by the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation Limited (CESC Ltd), I am saying this clearly. We will also do whatever is possible to help,” she added.
The West Bengal Chief Minister further stated that the State Government will provide compensation to the families of the victims and ensure employment for the next of kin.
“But the CESC cannot abdicate its responsibility. They must also extend compensation of at least Rs 5 lakh to each affected family,” she added.
Apart from the torrential downpour, the West Bengal Chief Minister blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the waterlogging.
“DVC has not done dredging for the last several years. They don’t listen to us and release water. Steps are being taken so that the situation improves soon,” she further mentioned.
Transport System Paralysed
The deluge, though, turned arterial roads into rivers, snapping Metro and train services, and throwing air travel into disarray as the city gasped for normalcy ahead of Bengal’s biggest festival, Durga Puja.
Vehicles were seen stranded on the road as it was not possible for them to move.
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.
Flight operations also faced chaos with more than 90 cancellations and over 90 delays reported till evening, even as waterlogging paralysed normal life across the metropolis.
Between midnight and 7.30 pm on Tuesday, as many as 42 incoming and 49 outgoing flights were cancelled at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport due to incessant downpour, restricted visibility, and poor weather at both Kolkata and outstation destinations, an AOCC (Airport Operations Control Centre) bulletin said.
In addition, 33 arrivals and 62 departures were delayed, while at least one flight had to be diverted, the bulletin said.
Families Waking Up To Knee-deep Water
For Kolkata residents, Tuesday dawned to a city under siege by water. In south Kolkata’s Garia and Jodhpur Park, residents were unpleasantly surprised 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.
On the streets, EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road and Central Avenue vanished under muddy torrents, buses stalled like dead hulks and cars half-submerged in filthy floodwater.
“I had to walk nearly 3 km in waist-deep water from Lake Gardens to Rashbehari Avenue,” office worker Rupa Chatterjee, drenched and exhausted, told news agency PTI.
“I don’t know how I’ll get back home tonight,” she added.
In central Kolkata’s MG Road, families carried furniture upstairs while children splashed in murky water filling their courtyards.
At College Street and Gariahat, the pavements became makeshift graveyards of livelihoods as traders, their faces etched with despair, piled sodden books that bled ink, garments dripping in limp heaps, and lifeless electronics spilling out of broken cartons, each discarded item a reminder of earnings washed away before puja.
“This is the time we earn most before puja,” bookseller Ashok Dutta said, adding, “Now everything is gone.” Stranded commuters fumed as fares soared, watching helplessly while autorickshaws refused to ply, buses that never came, and cabs demanded four times the usual fare.
“Autorickshaws 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.
Worry Ahead Of Durga Puja
The deluge forced Durga Puja organisers to defer inaugurations of community pujas as the calamity wreaked serious damage to marquees that are complete or nearly so, and pushed back the intricate installation art in pandals by artisans.
Many idol makers who were supposed to visit several pandals to give finishing touch to the idols said not just that they cannot reach the pandals; several Durga idols also got stranded at the studios as it was ‘impossible’ to carry clay idols during the rainfall.
Some Durga idols were seen stranded in Bijon Setu in south Kolkata due to heavy waterlogging in the Ballygunge area.
Adding to apprehensions of puja organisers and prospective pandal hoppers alike, the Met office warned that another similar system is likely to form on September 25, on the eve of the Pujas, and bring showers to the region.
More Rain Likely
Relief, however, may be short-lived.
The meteorological office warned that a new low-pressure system is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal by Thursday, intensifying rains in Kolkata and southern Bengal by Friday.
(With inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
September 23, 2025, 23:44 IST
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