Heavy rain paralyses Kolkata,7 killed, CM blames dredging, CESC

Normal life came to a standstill in Kolkata and adjoining areas on Tuesday after very heavy overnight rain left large parts of the city submerged and traffic movement severely disrupted. Several neighbourhoods went under knee-deep water, with water entering houses and residential complexes.Tragedy struck amid the deluge as at least three persons died of electrocution in rain-hit areas of the city. “Seven persons have died due to electrocution, as per our reports so far,” an official of the Police Control said.
According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the southern and eastern parts of the city bore the brunt of the downpour. Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rainfall in just a few hours, followed by 285 mm in Jodhpur Park, 280 mm in Kalighat, 275 mm in Topsia, 264 mm in Ballygunge, and 195 mm in Thantania in north Kolkata.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the showers to a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal, which is expected to move northwestwards. The system is likely to bring widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy showers over several districts of south Bengal over the next 24 hours.Districts including Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura are expected to receive heavy rainfall until Wednesday, the IMD said.
Adding to concerns, the weather office forecast the formation of another fresh low-pressure system over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25, which could prolong wet conditions in the region.Residents struggled through waterlogged streets on Tuesday morning, with traffic snarls reported across multiple stretches, including key arterial roads. Emergency teams from the civic authorities were pressed into action to pump out accumulated water and clear clogged drains.With more rain forecast, city authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, avoid waterlogged areas, and stay alert to the risk of electrocution in inundated localities.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the downpour as "unprecedented", lashing out at poor dredging of the Farakka barrage and lapses by private power utility CESC, while appealing to people to stay indoors for their own safety.  "I have never seen rain like this. I feel so bad for the people who have lost their lives in the cloudburst. I heard 7–8 people have died due to electrocution by open or unattended wires. It is so unfortunate… Their families must all be given jobs by the CESC. I am saying this clearly. We will also do whatever is possible to help," Squarely blaming the utility, she said, "Electricity is supplied by CESC, not us. It is their duty to ensure people do not suffer because of this. They will do business here, but not modernise here? They should send people to the field and fix this."
Office-goers faced severe hardships due to lack of public transport and traffic snarls. Train and Metro Railway services were badly hit. Significant waterlogging was reported in the mid-section of the Blue Line (Dakshineswar–Shahid Khudiram), particularly between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar stations, prompting suspension of services on this stretch. A Metro spokesperson said services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations since morning hours. "Truncated services are being run between Dakshineswar and Maidan stations," the official said, adding that normal services were expected to resume soon.