Kolkata Battles Waterlogging as Torrential Rain Claims 10 Lives

Kolkata – Several areas in Kolkata remained waterlogged on Wednesday, more than 24 hours after record-breaking rainfall left the city struggling to return to normalcy and claimed 10 lives.

City Mayor Firhad Hakim had earlier said that it would take at least 14 hours for the situation to stabilize. While water levels on major thoroughfares have receded, many streets, lanes, and bylanes remain submerged.

According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), additional pumps were deployed to drain water from key areas, improving conditions on main roads. However, flooding persists in localities including College Street, Thanthania, Raja Rammohan Sarani, Keshab Sen Street, Anand Palit Road, Ballygunge Outpost, VIP Bazar, New Garia Housing, and Tagore Park. Ballygunge Outpost remains knee-deep in water.

Other affected areas include Rashbehari Avenue, Palm Avenue, Rabindra Sadan, Patuli, Santoshpur Avenue, Park Circus, Topsia, Amherst Street, Nagerbazar, Boubazar, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Metiaburj, Barisha, Sarsuna, Joka, and the Kankurgachi underpass. Water has also accumulated near Minto Park, Camac Street, AJC Bose Road, and Gariahat Road ITI.

Despite the flooding, train services on Sealdah and Howrah sections, as well as metro services, resumed on Wednesday morning, though water remains on the Circular Railway route at Kolkata station.

On Tuesday, more than 300 mm of rain fell from midnight until 5:30 pm, inundating streets and disrupting traffic, trains, and metro services. Eight people died in Kolkata due to electrocution, with two more reported in surrounding areas.

A KMC official said, “It is possible to clear the roads by today if no more rain occurs. Heavy rainfall again would worsen the situation, especially ahead of Durga Puja.”

With inputs from IANS