At least seven people have lost their lives in Kolkata following heavy overnight rainfall that flooded streets, railway tracks, and Metro systems.
The city’s transportation network faced severe disruptions, with multiple vehicles breaking down on inundated roads and school transport services canceled. In response to the situation, many schools advised parents to keep their children at home, while numerous offices implemented work-from-home policies.
Reports indicated that several key areas of the city, including Lake Market, Rashbehari, Thanthania, Patuli, Santoshpur Avenue, Park Circus, Nagerbazar, and Bosepukur Talbagan, experienced knee-to-waist-deep water.
By 5:30 AM, cumulative rainfall figures revealed that Kamdahari (Garia) received 332 mm, Jodhpur Park 285 mm, Kalighat 280 mm, and Topsia (Alipore) 275 mm. Central and northern neighborhoods, such as Ultadanga (207 mm) and Thanthania (195 mm), also encountered substantial rainfall over a short period.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee characterized the downpour as “unprecedented” and criticized inadequate dredging of the Farakka Barrage, as well as what she termed “lapses” by power utility CESC. “Even our houses are submerged; we are all suffering,” she stated. Banerjee voiced concern for the Pujo pandals and mandated that schools declare holidays, while advising office employees to remain at home for safety reasons.
“I am in constant communication with the Mayor, Chief Secretary, and police. Farakka has not been dredged properly, so every time it rains in Bihar, UP, Uttarakhand, Mumbai, or Delhi, we experience waterlogging. This time the rain is slightly unusual,” she conveyed during an interview with a Bengali news channel.
In her remarks about CESC, she emphasized, “Electricity is supplied by CESC, not us. It is their duty to ensure people do not suffer because of this. They will conduct business here, but not modernize? They should send personnel to address these issues.”
Banerjee warned of further flooding: “More water will come. There will be more waterlogging. There is high tide in the Ganga River due to Mahalaya. Where will we pump out the water? There is no place to go; it will have to go to the Ganga only.”
She appealed to the private sector, “I implore all private sector workers to also not come to work; calamities affect all equally.”
Moreover, she noted that the Union government has curtailed financial support through GST, adding, “All our funds are going to deal with these calamities.”
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