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The BJP and TMC sparred over waterlogging in Kolkata following heavy rain in the city and related death incidents. The TMC accused the BJP of spreading propaganda.
Kolkata: Commuters make their way through a waterlogged road following rain (Photo: PTI)
Kolkata’s devastating overnight rain that killed at least seven people and left large parts of the city waterlogged on Tuesday sparked a political debate between the BJP’s West Bengal unit and the ruling TMC, with leaders trading accusations over mismanagement and responsibility.
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In an X post, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari slammed the state and municipal authorities over the rain-related deaths in the city.
He shared a video of bodies floating on streets amid heavy waterlogging, while locals and authorities could be seen shifting a corpse on a bus.
“Death procession in the waterlogged city!!! Corpses are floating in the water; seeing this scene early in the morning dampens the mood. But who is responsible for this plight?” Adhikari asked.
“With just one night’s rain, Kolkata-Salt Lake is submerged! The city is flooded, residents are in distress, and office commuters face extreme hardship.”
“In an era when technology is so advanced that we can predict when it will rain and how much, the inefficiency and indifference of the mayors of Kolkata and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation force the city’s residents to bear the consequences. They have learned nothing from past experiences, and the same scenario repeats year after year!” he wrote.
“This is not just your failure; it is a crime, and those responsible should be identified and appropriately punished,” he mentioned in the X post.
BJP West Bengal further highlighted the plight of residents in flooded areas.
“This is the condition of Maniktala! Durga Pujo celebrations are starting this week. Yet, due to Kolkata’s extremely poor drainage system, Puja pandals are submerged under water,” the party wrote on X, sharing a video of flooded streets in Kolkata.
Another X post by the party showed waterlogging near Science City, a posh locality.
“See the condition of Kolkata around Science City. This is one of the state’s highly acclaimed and posh regions that houses a few organizations,” the BJP’s West Bengal unit wrote in the social media post.
“If such is the condition of civil lives, how can anyone think about living a sustainable life in Kolkata? How can any organization further have the intent to invest? This is a breakdown of civil order,” it added.
TMC ACCUSES BJP OF SPREADING HATRED
Responding to the saffron party, the ruling TMC rejected its allegations and blamed the unprecedented rainfall for the flooding.
In an X post, West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya mentioned, “Yesterday, Kolkata faced the fury of a rare cloudburst. Nearly 300 mm of rain fell within hours, a scale that overwhelms any city, no matter its infrastructure.”
“Scientists have said the same in Mumbai 2005, Chennai 2015, Delhi 2023, no city escapes when the skies open without pause. Yet what does BJP do? They ignore science, they ignore compassion, they ignore climate realities,” she mentioned.
“Their only obsession is to weaponise pain and spread hate. They think people cannot tell the difference between a natural calamity and their propaganda. But Bengal can,” she added.
About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
September 23, 2025, 15:10 IST
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