Kolkata Rains: Rains wreak havoc before Durga Puja, killing 7 people, disrupting normal life

Torrential rains lashed Kolkata and its surrounding areas overnight on Tuesday, disrupting normal life. Five people have died in the city due to the heavy downpour.

Roads were flooded, rail and metro services were disrupted, and normal activities came to a standstill. Water entered many homes and residential areas, making life difficult for people. The news of five deaths further worsened the disaster.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a low-pressure area in the northeast Bay of Bengal could bring further heavy rainfall to several districts in South Bengal. In the city, Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rain in a matter of hours, while Jodhpur Park received 285 mm and Kalighat received 280 mm.

Metro and Rail Services Disrupted

Waterlogging on the central section of the Kolkata Metro Railway's Blue Line (Dakshineswar-Shaheed Khudiram), particularly between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarovar stations, has led to the suspension of services. A Metro spokesperson stated that services have been halted between Shaheed Khudiram and Maidan stations for passenger safety, while limited services are operating from Dakshineswar to Maidan. Normal services are expected to resume soon.

An Eastern Railway official stated that train operations on the Sealdah South section have been completely halted due to waterlogging on the tracks. Only nominal services are running on the Sealdah North and Main sections. Trains from Howrah and Kolkata Terminal stations are also affected, and trains on the Circular Railway Line are also halted due to waterlogging in the Chitpur yard.

Waterlogging on Roads, Schools Closed

Heavy waterlogging on city roads brought traffic to a complete standstill. Office-goers faced significant inconvenience due to the lack of public transport and traffic jams. Many schools declared a holiday due to heavy rain and waterlogging.

According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Topsia recorded 275 mm of rain and Ballygunge 264 mm, while Thantania in North Kolkata received 195 mm of rain.

The Meteorological Department stated that heavy rain is expected in South Bengal districts such as Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura until Wednesday.

Furthermore, another low pressure area is expected to form over the east-central and northern Bay of Bengal around September 25, which could further intensify the rain.

IndiGo Issues Travel Advisory

Airline company IndiGo Airlines has issued a travel advisory in view of the heavy rain. The company wrote, "Due to the possibility of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Kolkata, we expect flight delays and traffic slowdowns to and from the airport." "While we can't control the skies, we're doing everything we can to keep your journey on the ground running smoothly. Please check your flight status and consider allowing some time to arrive at the airport. We'll keep you informed and are always available if you need assistance."