Kolkata submerged as overnight downpour floods city ahead of Durga Puja; 10 killed

In a video statement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed “poor dredging” of the Farakka Barrage and lapses by private power utility CESC for the deaths. Urging people to stay indoors, she said: “I have never seen rain like this. A total of 10 people have died — nine died due to electrocution from open or unattended wires. Eight people died in Kolkata and two others in adjoining areas of Shasan in North 24 Parganas and Amtala in South 24 Parganas. It is so unfortunate. Their families must be given jobs by the CESC. They must be provided compensation of at least Rs 5 lakh by CESC.”

Pointing out that it is the CESC, and not the state government, which supplies electricity to Kolkata and its adjoining areas, she said: “It is their (CESC’s) duty to ensure people don’t suffer because of this. They will do business here, but will they not modernise? They should send people to the field and fix this.”

Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging and traffic disruption in Kolkata (Express photo)

“Some people tragically lost their lives due to electrocution caused by the negligence of CESC. To the families of the deceased, we extend our heartfelt condolences. There is no compensation for death, and life has no substitute. Still, we will ensure one government job for a member of each bereaved family. I am also instructing CESC to provide compensation. I have spoken with CESC regarding this. Alongside our heartfelt condolences, the families are entitled to this compensation as well,” she said in a post on X.

“The state was already inundated because of unilateral water release by the DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation); rivers and canals were overflowing. On top of that, a large volume of water has been flowing in from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through the Farakka Barrage, where lack of dredging has only worsened the problem. And now, this sudden, heavy downpour has added to it,” she said in her post.

Heavy waterlogging outside Raj Bhavan in Kolkata (Express photo)

“I have announced that all government schools will remain closed starting today. Colleges and universities will also remain shut for the next two days. Private offices should implement work-from-home for the next two days. Government offices will also function on a work-from-home basis for these two days. Saving lives is now the top priority,” she said.

Across the city, arterial roads like the EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road and Central Avenue turned into rivers, and key neighbourhoods, including Lake Market, Rashbehari, Thanthania, Patuli, Santoshpur Avenue, Park Circus, Nagerbazar and Bosepukur Talbagan, saw knee-to-waist deep water.

The deluge, attributed to a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, also left some puja pandals submerged. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rainfall in some areas including Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura districts as another low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal around Thursday.

–With inputs from Anisha Ghosh

From the homepage

Bihar SIR: Voter list shrinks by 6% after 3-month revision, about 68.5 lakh names deleted

Stalin’s caution in sparing Vijay backfires, actor issues challenge to CM: ‘Do whatever you want to do with me’

‘Had two options before me after winning elections…’: Omar says he would rather resign than get statehood with BJP as ally