Kolkata: A torrential overnight downpour brought south Kolkata to a standstill, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting an unprecedented 1,423.2 mm of rainfall across major neighbourhoods. The deluge left arterial roads under water, disrupted Metro and railway services, and stalled last-minute preparations for Durga Puja, leaving organisers and residents in distress.
Neighbourhoods worst hit
The most severely affected area was Garia Kamdahari, which recorded 332 mm of rain, followed by Jodhpur Park with 285 mm and Kalighat, home turf of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with 280.2 mm. The IMD’s Alipore office registered 239 mm rainfall between midnight and early morning, much of it concentrated in a five-hour spell.
Tragically, four people lost their lives due to electrocution, according to initial media reports. Several households disconnected their electric meters as floodwater entered ground floors in localities such as Ballygunge and Behala.
Transport chaos across the city
The downpour left Metro Railway services crippled, with operations suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan after tracks at Tollygunge and Rabindra Sarobar were submerged. Services are running only between Dakshineswar and Maidan, cutting off the southern stretch of the city.
The situation was equally grim for Eastern Railway, with train movement in the Sealdah South section suspended and only skeleton services operating in the north and main sections. At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, airlines including Indigo warned passengers of delays due to waterlogging and poor road connectivity.
“Please check your flight status and give yourself extra travel time,” Indigo advised in a public notice.
Daily life paralysed
Social media was flooded with images of knee-deep water across Park Circus, Ballygunge, Behala, Bansdroni, and Keyatala. Stalls under construction collapsed at pandal sites, and many Durga Puja organisers were forced to halt preparations. Schools across Kolkata were also ordered shut for the day.
One commuter narrated his ordeal, saying the journey from Howrah to Chinar Park took over two-and-a-half hours, compared to the usual one hour. For many returning home to Kolkata for the festival, the city’s festive spirit was dampened by the deluge.
More rain forecast
The IMD has warned of a low-pressure system over the northeast Bay of Bengal, likely to bring more rainfall across south Bengal districts on Tuesday. Another system is expected to form over the east-central Bay in the next 48 hours, further compounding the risk of heavy showers during the peak festive week.
Conclusion
With large swathes of Kolkata submerged, the record-breaking rainfall has cast a shadow on Durga Puja celebrations, one of the city’s most important cultural events. Authorities are racing to pump out water from transport lines and residential areas, but forecasts of fresh downpours suggest that the situation may worsen before it improves.