Heavy rains claim several lives in Kolkata, trigger severe waterlogging ahead of Durga Puja

Guwahati: Torrential overnight rains have left several people dead in rain-related incidents across Kolkata and its suburbs, with waterlogging causing widespread disruption throughout the city.

Fatalities were reported from Beniapukur, Kalikapur, Netaji Nagar, Gariahat, and Ekbalpur, neighbourhoods spread across central and southern Kolkata.

The downpour severely impacted daily life on Monday, disrupting road traffic, suburban train operations, and Metro services. Water entered homes in several low-lying areas, damaging property and forcing multiple schools to announce rain-related closures.

According to Kolkata Municipal Corporation data, southern and eastern parts of the city bore the brunt of the rainfall.

Garia Kamdahari recorded a staggering 332 mm of rain in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), and Ballygunge (264 mm).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the heavy rain to a low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal.

Meteorologists have warned of more rain in the coming hours, raising concerns as the city prepares for its biggest annual festival, Durga Puja.

Flooded streets have also affected air travel. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo issued advisories, alerting passengers to potential delays due to waterlogging around Kolkata airport.

Visuals from the airport showed standing water on the tarmac, compounding concerns for travelers arriving for the festival season.

Air India urged passengers to check flight statuses and leave early for the airport, citing possible delays due to traffic snarls and inundated roads.

IndiGo also cautioned flyers to allow extra time for travel, stating they were doing everything possible to manage ground operations safely.

Kolkata Mayor and senior Trinamool Congress leader Firhad Hakim expressed concern over the scale of the flooding, saying, “There is so much water in my locality too, I’ve never seen anything like this before. We are providing food and shelter to those affected, and if the rain stops, we hope to restore normalcy by tonight.”

With Durga Puja just days away, organisers are racing against time to protect the elaborate puja pandals, many of which are near completion.

The downpour has raised fears of damage to months of artistic effort, as Kolkata braces for continued wet weather during its most festive season.