A day of relentless, heavy rain has brought life in Kolkata to a standstill, leaving five people dead and much of the city submerged. The intense downpour, which began overnight, has led to severe waterlogging across the metropolis, causing widespread flooding and crippling traffic.
Low-Pressure System Approaches
A low-pressure system has developed over the Bay of Bengal with a fresh wave of heavy rain and high alert in Kolkata and the surrounding districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of increased downpours and possible waterlogging, with the alert continuing till September 26. The fresh prediction is made while the city is still reeling under the impact of Tuesday’s torrential rain, which spread pandemonium across the city.
Torrential Rains Bring The City To A Standstill
Yesterday’s rain soaked Kolkata’s streets and reduced traffic to a crawl, making daily life standstill. Major roads, busy intersections, and low-lying areas were worst hit by waterlogging, leading to lengthy traffic jams for commuters and derailing public transport. Cars battled to navigate through water-covered streets, and imagery from around the city depicted parked vehicles half-immersed in water. Social media videos also showed scenes of water entering ground-floor apartments, trapping residents in up to ankle-deep flooding.
Maximum Rainfall In Major Areas
The most torrential rain fell in the city’s southern and eastern zones. Garia Kamdahari, according to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, saw a record-breaking 332 mm of rain within a couple of hours. Other places that received heavy rainfall were Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), Ballygunge (264 mm), and Thantania in North Kolkata (195 mm).
Residents Fear More Flooding As Wet Spell Continues
The city’s residents are voicing their concerns as the forecast predicts more rain. “I think Kolkata just received record-breaking rainfall. This is the heaviest rainfall I’ve seen, beyond even 2020 Amphan levels of flooding. All my ground-floor neighbors are also saying the same,” lamented one Reddit user, who reported having shin-deep water inside their home.
The IMD prediction shows that there is going to be a rainy week. Although Tuesday and Wednesday are likely to see scattered showers or thundershowers with windy conditions, the scenario is likely to worsen from Thursday and Friday with thundershowers and heavy showers. Light showers and improvement in the weather are likely to start from September 27.
