As Kolkata Mayor compares situation to ‘1978 floods’, how rains hit transport in and around Kolkata

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said, “This kind of water, I haven’t seen since I was a child. I haven’t seen this kind of water where our neighbourhood gets flooded, because our neighbourhood is next to the Adiganga. So the natural flow of water goes into the Adiganga. But even there, water has accumulated. The Adiganga can’t take the water, it’s completely full.”

Comparing it to a flood from 1978, he added, “In ’78, there was a flood in Kolkata, I saw it then. We were young at the time, we were cleaning everything and bringing people to the school buildings on our shoulders.”

“If there is no more rain, I hope the water will recede by tonight,” Hakim said.

Suburban and long-distance trains paralysed

Overnight downpour from Monday left major hubs, including Howrah and Sealdah, inundated. Flooded tracks and car sheds forced Eastern Railway to cancel multiple services, stranding thousands of commuters. Key express trains, including Vande Bharat services, the Ranchi Shatabdi and the Black Diamond Express, were hit, while others were delayed or held up en route.

Suburban routes were also badly affected. Several local trains on the Howrah-Bandel, Howrah-Tarakeswar and Howrah-Haripal lines were cancelled. At Sealdah, services on the South Section and the Circular Railway were fully suspended. Long-distance trains such as the Hazarduari Express and the Sealdah-Jangipur Express were also cancelled.

Railway officials said water pumps had been deployed but drainage was slow as floodwater flowed back from adjacent civic areas.

Metro services disrupted

The Kolkata Metro suspended operations between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations after tracks near Rabindra Sarobar were flooded.

“Green, Yellow and Purple line services are normal. Normal services have been restored from Dakshineswar to Maidan. It rained torrentially last night. Water entered the Metro tunnel. For passenger safety we had to suspend services. Water is being cleared,” said S S Kannan, spokesperson, Metro Railway.

Operations were truncated to Dakshineswar-Maidan. Staff continued pumping out water but persistent inflows from surrounding areas made full restoration difficult. Commuters turned to buses and ride-sharing services, which were also delayed due to waterlogged roads.

An official said, “The continuous downpour and the extent of the waterlogging suggest that disruptions and impact will continue through the day.”

School buildings open for residents in low-lying areas

Mayor Hakim said school buildings had been opened for residents in low-lying areas. “Now, many poor people who live on the streets or in low-lying areas, many school buildings have been opened for them, and they are staying there. We have been told by the Corporation and the police station to arrange for food.”

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