Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, was brought to a standstill by its heaviest rainfall since 1988, which left nine people dead. According to HR Biswas, the regional head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Kolkata, as much as 251.6 mm (9.9 inches) of rain fell in just 24 hours, with the majority of it coming during the early hours of Tuesday. Police reported that most of the deaths were caused by electrocution, while two individuals drowned.
The deluge has severely disrupted preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja, the largest annual festival in the state. Many temporary structures (pandals) built for the festival, along with the clay idols of deities, were damaged across the city. The intense downpour led to waist-deep water on some roads, stranding vehicles and forcing commuters to wade through the flooded streets. Road, train, and air traffic were all severely disrupted, with numerous flights and trains cancelled or delayed for hours. Power outages in multiple areas compounded the difficulties for residents.
In response, authorities have deployed water pumps to clear streets and railway tracks and have initiated relief measures, including food distribution and emergency services. The state government has declared schools and other educational institutions closed on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the festival holidays. The IMD has predicted more rain for the state and eastern India in the coming days due to a new low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. Officials stated that conditions are expected to normalize by Wednesday evening. Despite this, a local resident, Sandip Ghosh, voiced frustration to a news agency, saying, “This should not have happened after four hours of rain. West Bengal is not in a good condition.”
