Kolkata is grappling with severe waterlogging and chaos after a night of intense rainfall. The downpour, which some residents have compared to a “cloudburst,” has paralyzed daily life and brought key parts of the city to a standstill just days before the start of the massive Durga Puja festival. Authorities have confirmed at least four deaths due to electrocution, a tragic consequence of the widespread flooding.
Areas like Park Street, Salt Lake, Jadavpur, Baghajatin, and Golf Green are submerged under knee-deep water, causing major traffic jams and disrupting public transportation. Both road and railway services have been hit, with trains and Metro services facing disruptions due to waterlogged tracks. Many schools in the city have also declared a holiday, asking students and staff to stay home for safety.
The heaviest rainfall was concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the city. According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Garia Kamdahari received a staggering 332 mm of rain in just a few hours. Other areas also recorded significant precipitation: Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), and Ballygunge (264 mm).
This intense rainfall is a result of a low-pressure area that has formed over the northeast Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns that this system is expected to move northwest, bringing more widespread rain to several districts in south Bengal, including Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura, until Wednesday. The IMD has also warned of another potential low-pressure area forming around September 25, which could mean more downpours in the coming days.
What is a “Cloudburst”?
While many residents likened the event to a cloudburst, it’s important to note the technical definition. A cloudburst is an extreme weather event where a very large amount of rain falls in a very short period over a small area. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines it as rainfall of 100 mm or more within one hour over a small geographical region of roughly 20 to 30 square kilometers. Cloudbursts often occur in hilly or mountainous regions due to specific meteorological conditions, but they can also happen in flat regions. The term “burst” comes from the old, now disproven, belief that clouds are like water balloons that literally burst open.