Kolkata – In a stark reminder of the city’s perennial drainage woes, relentless monsoon rains lashed Kolkata for nearly seven hours overnight, from Monday evening into the early hours of Tuesday, leaving swathes of the urban landscape submerged under knee-deep water, according to police and government officials.
The deluge, which caught residents off guard despite prior warnings, transformed bustling thoroughfares and low-lying neighborhoods into makeshift lakes, complicating morning commutes and amplifying concerns just days before the vibrant Durga Puja celebrations commence. Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes: vehicles stalled in flooded intersections, pedestrians wading through murky pools, and shopkeepers hastily sandbagging entrances to protect against seepage.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had flagged the risk on Monday, forecasting the approach of a low-pressure trough from the north toward Kolkata and the adjacent South 24 Parganas district. This atmospheric shift was expected to unleash heavy precipitation across the region for the ensuing 24 hours, a prediction that proved all too accurate. Officials at the weather agency further cautioned that comparable downpours could revisit Kolkata and its environs as early as September 25, injecting a layer of uncertainty into the meticulously planned pandal-hopping rituals that define the festival.
The timing could not be more inopportune for the city’s puja committees, many of whom are in the final throes of erecting elaborate marquees and thematic installations. Community organizers, already grappling with logistical hurdles, expressed alarm over potential disruptions to rehearsals and setup timelines. “This unseasonal intensity has us scrambling; we’re monitoring forecasts hourly to safeguard our preparations,” noted one veteran pandal supervisor from south Kolkata, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In response, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) swung into action, deploying emergency protocols to mitigate the crisis. “We have activated drainage pumps across vulnerable zones to expedite road clearance and restore normalcy,” confirmed a senior KMC official, underscoring the administration’s proactive stance amid the downpour’s aftermath.
While no major casualties were reported, the episode reignited longstanding debates on urban infrastructure resilience. Civic activists pointed to chronic issues like clogged sewers and inadequate stormwater management as root causes, urging swift remedial measures to avert escalation during the peak festival period. As cleanup crews labored under clearing skies, Kolkatans braced for what could be another wet spell, hoping the goddess’s arrival brings not just devotion, but drier days.
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