Kolkata rain: The capital city of West Bengal witnessed heavy rainfall overnight that has crippled the city, severely hitting the Durja Puja preparations in Kolkata. Roads, underpasses remain waterlogged and people were seen trying to wade through knee-deep water. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is working to ease the situation. However, as most of the areas are inundated, the civic body has a huge task to clear the mess amid Navratri festivities in the region. 

Train services were also hit due to heavy rainfall in parts of the Sealdah Division. The visuals of submerged vehicles, inundated Pandals have gone viral on social media as public sudden flooding led to chaos in the city.

“Due to heavy rainfall in various parts of the Sealdah Division, train operations were affected at that time. Trains heading towards the South Section could not be dispatched from Sealdah station on time,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM) of the Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway Jasram Meena said. 

Three people have died of electrocution as the city continues to remain heavily waterlogged on Tuesday.

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Traffic hit, underpasses closed due sudden flooding

Overnight showers flooded Kolkata amid Durga Puja celebrations ruining the Navratri plans of the residents. Traffic was hit and several intersection and underpasses like the Newtown Biswa Bangla Intersection were closed due to waterlogging.

Kolkata traffic police said that due to the downpour, traffic has been affected and necessary diversions have been in the city. According to PTI, traffic movement was affected across most roads, with vehicles stranded for hours in knee-to-waist-deep water. 

Vehicles were hardly moving at Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street, EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road and Central Avenue, added the report. Commuters said that the buses broke down mid-way, while taxis and app cabs either stayed off the roads or charged exorbitant fares.

Visuals from outside the Jadavpur University and hostel showed severe waterlogging. Even puja pandals were seen submerged due to the showers.

Not just this, localities, houses and even vehicles were seen submerged following the rainfall in Kolkata, troubling the residents as showers also impacted the Metro Railway services. Water entered many houses and residential complexes in the city as roads went underwater.

Significant waterlogging was reported in the mid-section of the Blue Line (Dakshineswar–Shahid Khudiram), particularly between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar stations, prompting the immediate suspension of services on this stretch.

A Metro Railway Kolkata spokesperson said in order to ensure passengers’ safety, services have been suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations since morning hours. “Truncated services are being run between Dakshineswar and Maidan stations,” he said, adding that normal services are expected to be resumed soon.

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Schools closed, more rain predicted

Amid the chaotic situation, the authorities have ordered the closure of schools declaring a holiday on Tuesday. Among the worst hit were the regular office-goers who faced a tough time reaching their destinations as public transport and traffic snarled. 

While the waterlogging remains as it is, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy rain in several south Bengal districts.

The past midnight rain early Tuesday was more intense in the southern and eastern parts of the city. Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rain in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park at 285 mm, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said. Kalighat saw 280 mm of rain, Topsia 275 mm, Ballygunge 264 mm, while Thantania in north Kolkata received 195 mm of rain, the civic body added. 

IMD said more rain is likely to hit Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura districts in South Bengal till Wednesday. It said another fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25.