Kolkata rain live: At least seven killed in overnight deluge ahead of Durga Puja
Kolkata reels under overnight torrential rain, killing seven and causing severe waterlogging in areas like Jadavpur, Salt Lake, and Golf Green. Traffic snarls, Metro suspensions, school closures, and Durga Puja preparations disrupted as IMD warns of more heavy showers.
At least seven people died in rain-related incidents as a torrential downpour overnight lashed West Bengal's capital, Kolkata—just days ahead of the Durga Puja festivities enthusiastically celebrated across the state. The heavy rain on Monday night and early Tuesday left large parts of the city waterlogged, crippling traffic and daily life.
Seven die of electrocution amid torrential
Heavy rainfall in Kolkata on September 23 claimed the lives of at least seven people due to electrocution. The city has grinded to a halt as large areas were submerged, transport services crippled, and traffic movement badly impacted.
Four of the deceased have been identified as Firoz Ali Khan (50) of Beniapukur, Pranatosh Kundu (62) of Netaji Nagar, and Mumtaz Bibi (70) of Ekbalpur, besides an unidentified person in Gariahat.
Speaking to a local media channel, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the downpour as “unprecedented”, and blamed poor dredging work of the Farakka barrage and lapses by private power utility CESC, while appealing to people to stay indoors for their own safety.
“I have never seen rain like this. I feel so bad for the people who have lost their lives in the cloudburst. I heard 7–8 people have died due to electrocution by open or unattended wires. It is so unfortunate… Their families must all be given jobs by the CESC. I am saying this clearly. We will also do whatever is possible to help,” she told the channel.
Which Areas Faced Knee-Deep Waterlogging?
Several areas in and around Kolkata, including Jadavpur, Baghajatin, Salt Lake, and Golf Green, experienced knee-deep waterlogging, bringing traffic, public transport, and normal activities to a standstill.
Read | As Kolkata drowns in rain, X users draw parallels with 'Amphan Cyclone', say 'if it doesn’t stop…'
Videos showed vehicles stranded on main roads, commuters wading through waist-deep water at several intersections, and Metro services suspended along a long stretch of the Blue Line, as the city struggled to cope with one of its heaviest rain spells in years.
Traffic movement was severely affected across major roads, with vehicles stuck for hours at key intersections such as Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street. Long snarls were reported on EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road, and Central Avenue, while several smaller lanes in south and central Kolkata were completely cut off.
Many schools declared holidays as students and staff could not reach their destinations through flooded streets. Residents took to X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration, with many describing the rain as “disastrous” and worse than the Amphan Cyclone.
IMD Forecast: What Did the Weather Department Warn?
The intensity of the downpour was higher in the southern and eastern parts of Kolkata, the KMC said. Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rainfall in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), and Ballygunge (264 mm). Thantania in north Kolkata received 195 mm.
The weather office warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura districts till Wednesday. It added that another fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25.