KOLKATA: At least 12 people have died after torrential rain battered the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and surrounding districts, flooding streets, crippling transport, and disrupting life just days ahead of the Durga Puja festival, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city recorded 251.6 mm (9.9 inches) of rainfall within 24 hours — the heaviest downpour in Kolkata since 1988. “Most of the rain fell in the early hours of Tuesday,” said HR Biswas, the IMD’s regional head.
Police reported that nine people died within Kolkata city limits, largely due to electrocution, while two others drowned in floodwaters. The heavy rains left vast areas of the metropolis waterlogged, with some neighborhoods submerged under waist-deep water. Vehicles were stranded and commuters forced to wade through inundated streets.
The deluge brought Kolkata to a near standstill and severely hampered preparations for Durga Puja, the state’s biggest annual Hindu festival. Pandals — temporary bamboo-and-cloth structures built to house clay idols of deities — were damaged across the city, leaving organizers scrambling to salvage their work.
Transport services also suffered major disruption. Train and air traffic were delayed or cancelled, while power outages struck multiple neighborhoods. “I got stranded in my hotel as my flight got cancelled and the roads were all waterlogged,” said Ranjan Panda, a water and climate expert, describing the chaos.
Authorities have deployed water pumps to clear flooded streets and railway tracks, while relief measures, including emergency food distribution, are underway. The West Bengal government announced the closure of schools and educational institutions on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of the official holiday beginning Friday for Durga Puja.
The IMD warned of further rainfall in eastern India over the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. While officials expressed hope that conditions would normalize by Wednesday evening, they urged residents in low-lying areas to remain cautious until water levels fully recede.
“This should not have happened after four hours of rain. West Bengal is not in a good condition,” said Sandip Ghosh, a resident of Kolkata, voicing frustration over the city’s vulnerability to flooding.
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