• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Kolkata Weather: Heavy overnight rains wreaked havoc across Kolkata on Tuesday, leaving the city paralysed. At least 10 people lost their lives due to electrocution, and daily life came to a grinding halt. Streets were flooded, transportation was disrupted, and large parts of the city were left without power. According to the West Bengal government, this was the heaviest rainfall the city has seen in 37 years.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to follow safety guidelines.

Kolkata Rains: What We Know So Far

- At least 10 people have died in Kolkata and nearby districts as a result of the downpour. The rainfall has disrupted transport, power, and other essential services.

- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she will not inaugurate Durga Puja mandaps on Tuesday due to the rainfall. Apart from this, all the political parties also cancelled their programs.

- Kolkata has received the sixth-highest single-day rainfall in the last 137 years in the past two days.

- The authority stated that the schools and other educational institutes will remain closed for the next two days.

- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds through the week across Kolkata and South Bengal.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru: BJP MP's Wife Loses Rs 14 Lakh Via 'Digital Arrest'; Check How Her Money Recovered

- IMD has issued multiple alerts for districts, including Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura, with heavy rain expected until Wednesday. Similar showers may affect Kolkata and surrounding areas around September 25, prompting community puja organisers to stay alert.

- According to the IMD, a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal triggered the relentless rainfall.

- Many areas, including Buroshibtala, Baghajatin, Paschim Putiari, Behala, Kidderpore, Netaji Nagar, and others, reported widespread power outages from as early as 4 AM. Places like Tollygunge, Naktala, Garfa, Park Circus, and College Street also experienced disruptions throughout the day.

ALSO READ: 'Something Very Surprising': Shashi Tharoor Urges Indian-American Diaspora To Be More Vocal Amid H1-B Visa Row

- The North-South Metro line, Kolkata’s busiest and most crucial route, suffered its longest-ever breakdown — lasting 13 hours. Floodwaters entered tunnels between Rabindra Sarobar and Tollygunge, forcing the authorities to shut down the third rail and pump water out.

- Though services resumed between Maidan and Bansdroni by 5:38 PM after safety checks, operations earlier in the day were limited to specific stretches. Meanwhile, other Metro lines like the Green, Purple, Orange, and Yellow lines had to handle the extra passenger load as bus and cab services were scarce.

- The rains didn’t spare air travel either. By Tuesday evening, over 90 flights had been cancelled and another 90 delayed. Between midnight and 7:30 PM alone, 42 arrivals and 49 departures were scrapped, with at least one flight diverted. Waterlogged runways and poor visibility caused chaos at the airport, leaving many passengers stranded.

- Mayor Firhad Hakim described the situation as unprecedented. "It felt like a cloudburst, terrifying and unexpected," he said. "We’ve opened the floodgates to help the water drain out, but the problem is that the canals across the city are already full, so it’s taking time."

- Kolkata received over 300 mm of rainfall in just five hours, overwhelming the city's drainage systems.