Torrential overnight rain left Kolkata paralysed on Tuesday, claiming at least four lives due to electrocution and throwing normal life out of gear as vast areas were submerged, transport services disrupted, and traffic brought to a grinding halt.
Commuters waded through waist-deep water in several parts of the city, while vehicles lay stranded on arterial roads. Metro services on a major stretch of the Blue Line were suspended, and train operations from Howrah and Sealdah were badly hit due to flooded tracks.
The victims were identified as Firoz Ali Khan (50) of Beniapukur, Pranatosh Kundu (62) of Netaji Nagar, Mumtaz Bibi (70) of Ekbalpur, and an unidentified man in Gariahat. “So far, we have information of four deaths due to electrocution in different places in the city,” Kolkata Mayor and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim confirmed.
Hakim said most areas remained waterlogged, with Kolkata Municipal Corporation teams struggling to drain out water as rivers and canals overflowed. He cautioned that the afternoon high tide might worsen the situation, with some relief expected only late at night.
Traffic was brought to a standstill at Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street, while EM Bypass and AJC Bose Road witnessed massive snarls. Many schools declared a holiday, and office-goers faced severe hardships as buses broke down mid-way, taxis stayed off the roads, and app cabs charged exorbitant fares.
Metro services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations, while Eastern Railway suspended operations in the Sealdah south section. Circular Railway services also came to a halt.
The India Meteorological Department warned of more heavy rain in south Bengal districts, including Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura. In Kolkata, the worst-hit areas included Garia Kamdahari (332 mm), Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), and Ballygunge (264 mm).
With another low-pressure system likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by September 25, authorities fear the situation could worsen further.
