Kolkata Crippled by Record Rain, 10 Dead as City Struggles Ahead of Durga Puja

Kolkata, the city of joy, was brought to its knees this Tuesday after an unprecedented overnight downpour, the heaviest in 37 years, submerged vast swathes of the metropolis. The torrential rains, which left at least 10 people dead in rain-related incidents, have thrown normal life into disarray just days before the grand celebrations of Durga Puja are set to begin.

The deluge, which began late Monday night and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, dumped a staggering amount of rainfall on the city. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Alipore weather office recorded 251.4 mm of rain in a 24-hour period, a figure not seen since 1988. Some areas in South and East Kolkata were hit even harder, with Garia Kamdahari receiving an astounding 332 mm of rainfall in just a few hours.

The human cost of this natural event has been tragic. The majority of the reported deaths were due to electrocution, with victims coming into contact with live wires while navigating the flooded streets. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has squarely placed the blame on the private power utility, CESC, demanding compensation and jobs for the families of the deceased.

The city’s infrastructure buckled under the sheer volume of water. Arterial roads transformed into rivers, with water levels reaching knee to waist-deep in key intersections like Park Circus, Gariahat, and Behala. Public transport, including suburban trains and Metro services, was severely disrupted, with several sections of the Metro’s Blue Line suspended due to waterlogging. Air travel was also impacted, with a significant number of flights at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport either cancelled or delayed.

The timing of the downpour could not have been worse. With Durga Puja festivities just around the corner, many of the city’s iconic pandals (temporary structures housing the Durga idol) were submerged, and intricate decorations and electrical fittings were damaged. Organizers, who had been working for months, are now racing against time and the elements to salvage their efforts.

The IMD attributes the record-breaking rainfall to a low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal, leading to a strong convergence of moisture over the region. While the low-pressure system is expected to dissipate, the weather department has issued a warning of a fresh low-pressure system forming around September 25, which could bring more showers and further complicate the recovery efforts.

In response to the crisis, the West Bengal government has announced early Durga Puja holidays for state-run schools and has advised private institutions and offices to follow suit. While city officials, led by Kolkata’s mayor, are working round the clock to drain the floodwaters, the high tide in the Hooghly river is hampering their efforts, as the water being pumped out flows back into the city.

As Kolkata grapples with the aftermath of this deluge, the city’s residents are displaying a mix of resilience and frustration. The widespread flooding has not only disrupted daily life but has also raised concerns about the city’s preparedness for such extreme weather events, particularly with climate change making such occurrences more frequent. The coming days will be a test of the city’s ability to recover and celebrate its most important festival amidst the ruins of this historic flood.