Heavy rainfall lasting from Monday night into Tuesday morning has brought life in Kolkata to a grinding halt, leaving at least seven people dead and large parts of the city under water. The intense downpour has been described as “unprecedented” by state officials and has severely impacted traffic, public transport, and daily life just days before the start of the Durga Puja festival.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the situation, attributing the scale of the flooding to poor dredging of the Farakka barrage and what she called “lapses” by the private power utility, CESC. She expressed her deep sadness over the deaths, all of which were a result of electrocution from submerged wires. “I have never seen rain like this. I feel so bad for the people who have lost their lives in the cloudburst,” Banerjee told a Bengali news channel, urging residents to stay indoors for their safety. She also demanded that CESC provide jobs to the families of the victims, stating that the state government would also do whatever is possible to help. Banerjee added that even her own house was submerged, highlighting the widespread nature of the flooding.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out at a shop on the waterlogged streets of Mandeville Gardens in the Gariahat area on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighting operations were immediately launched, with state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim reaching the spot to oversee the situation.
The political fallout from the disaster has been swift. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government, sharing visuals of submerged Durga Puja pandals. The BJP’s West Bengal unit took to social media, alleging that the “extremely poor drainage system” and “years of anarchy” under the CPM and “nearly 15 years of corruption” under the TMC have forced Bengalis to suffer even during their biggest festival.
The torrential downpour has not only led to deaths and property damage but has also crippled key infrastructure. Metro and train services were suspended in many areas due to waterlogged tracks, leaving commuters stranded. With more rain forecasted, city officials and residents are bracing for further challenges.