Train and Metro Railway services were disrupted in the city and suburbs owing to waterlogging of tracks, officials said
Kolkata: An unprecedented pre-dawn rain, that initially appeared to be a cloudburst following a low-pressure, flooded the city within three hours Tuesday, claiming eight lives, mostly due to electrocution, and threw life out of gear totally ahead of Durga Puja festival.
Seven casualties among the eight happened after the day broke when the victims came in contact accidentally with live wires either hanging dangerously or lying on the ground. All the fatalities occurred in different parts of south Kolkata and its adjoining areas.
An aged woman was also injured due to electrocution in the port area. At many places, knee to waist deep water and partially submerged cars and vehicles, parked on the roads, were a common scene. 30 flights were cancelled while 42 others were delayed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Metro services and train services in Eastern Railway were also affected. All political events for the day remained cancelled. Case hearings were impacted at the Calcutta High Court as many judges and lawyers could not reach on time.
The record rainfall further damaged Durga Puja pandals and its surrounding decorations, which were getting a finishing touch, and forced West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate pujas virtually instead of physically.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Kolkata, an “extremely heavy rainfall of 251.4mm” was recorded at 8.30 am on Tuesday to have occurred over the city in the last 24 hours. In a bulletin, it stated that the city witnessed the highest rainfall, 185.6 mm, between 2.30 am and 5.30 am.
It was followed by 48.6 mm from 11.30 pm on Monday to 2.30 am on Tuesday and 12.1 mm between 5.30 am and 8.30 am on Tuesday. The RMC however stated, “Maximum highest hourly rainfall observed as 98 mm between 03:00 to 04:00 hours IST of 23 September, 2025. As it is less than 100 mm, it does not satisfy the cloudburst criteria.”
It added, “A Low-Pressure has formed on 22 morning and it slowly moved to coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha & northwest Bay of Bengal in the morning of 23 September, 2025. Under its influence strong moisture convergence persisted over Kolkata and neighbourhood area. Kolkata Doppler weather Radar image as depicted below shown high moisture content persisted over Kolkata area with cloud height about 5 to 7 km.”
Ms Banerjee has urged the people to stay indoors throughout the day. She posted in the social media, “Our colleagues and officials are carrying out their efforts to normalize the situation everywhere in wake of a sudden disaster that hit some parts of Kolkata and its adjoining areas.”
The CM stated, “The state was already flooded by the one-sided release of one-sided water of DVC. The rivers and canals were overflowing. A lot of water is coming through Farakka barrage from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, there was a problem as there was a problem over no dredging. Now, a sudden heavy rain hit here. I am monitoring the situation through the mayor, chief secretary and others and giving necessary instructions.”
Ms Banerjee added, “From today, all government schools will be closed for holidays. Colleges and universities will also have holidays for the next two days. The private sector offices should have work-from-home for the next two days. The government offices will also do the same. Saving people is the primary job now.”
She added, “Our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were electrocuted to death today due to the negligence of CESC. Death has no compensation while life has no alternative. Still, we will ensure the jobs to one member of their families. I have also asked CESC to provide compensation to the affected families and spoke to CESC. The families deserve the compensation along with our sincere condolences.”
