Kolkata, India — Devastating rains recently struck Kolkata, leading to at least eight fatalities due to electrocution. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee toured various inundated areas of the city on Tuesday, expressing her condolences for those who lost their lives and vowing to provide support for their families.
“The news of seven to eight people succumbing to electrocution is tragic. Their families should be provided with employment opportunities by the electric supplier,” Banerjee stated during her visit. Among the deceased were residents from different neighborhoods, including Beniapukur and Netaji Nagar, as well as an unidentified individual from Gariahat.
As torrential rains continued overnight, Kolkata grappled with severe flooding that paralyzed transportation services, including buses and railways. Many areas found themselves completely submerged, causing widespread disruptions in daily life.
Banerjee expressed her frustration over the city’s inadequate drainage systems, particularly criticizing the poor maintenance of the Farakka Barrage, which she indicated could contribute to recurring waterlogging. “Each heavy rain brings similar challenges, affecting states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This season, the rain has been particularly excessive,” she noted.
The Chief Minister also addressed the impact on her own home, stating it too had been flooded. “We are all in this together. The electric company has responsibility to ensure safety during such conditions,” she emphasized, critiquing the insufficient infrastructure improvements.
Kolkata’s streets were largely impassable, with stranded vehicles and extensive traffic jams reported on key routes such as Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is actively working to alleviate the flooding, with Mayor Firhad Hakim stating that municipal teams are tirelessly attempting to drain the water from the streets.
Schools across the city suspended classes as students and faculty faced difficulties navigating through the flooded areas, while office workers struggled due to a lack of public transport. Metro services reported severe disruptions, with operations suspended on sections of the Blue Line due to significant water accumulation.
The India Meteorological Department has indicated that a low-pressure system forming over the northeastern Bay of Bengal is expected to continue unleashing heavy rainfall across southern Bengal. The hardest-hit areas saw rainfall amounts reaching over 300 mm within a matter of hours, significantly impacting Garia Kamdahari and several neighboring districts.
The weather agency warned of continued heavy downpours impacting regions such as Purba and Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram, with expectations of further rainfall as another low-pressure system is forecasted to develop by the end of the week.
As the city copes with this unprecedented deluge, residents remain hopeful for effective long-term solutions to mitigate future flooding crises.