Kolkata drowns in unseasonal deluge, city grinds to halt 

September 24, 2025

Unprecedented rainfall has left Kolkata reeling just days before Durga Puja, with at least seven people dead and large parts of the city submerged under floodwaters. The downpour, which began late at night, inundated streets, disrupted transport, and left homes and neighbourhoods waterlogged, bringing daily life to a standstill in the state capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the deluge to a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal, warning of further heavy rain across southern Bengal districts in the coming days. The intensity of the rainfall has been described as unusual even by local standards, striking the city at a time when preparations for Bengal’s biggest festival were at their peak.

Reports said seven people were electrocuted as floodwaters rose through residential areas. Streets across Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street saw vehicles stranded in knee-to-waist-deep water. Residents described scenes of buses breaking down mid-route and taxis or app-based cabs either refusing rides or charging exorbitant fares. Several residential complexes reported water entering their premises, while households struggled with power outages and internet failures.

Transport systems across the city bore the brunt of the disruption. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet issued passenger advisories early Tuesday, warning of delays and urging travellers to leave additional time for journeys to the airport because of severe waterlogging on approach roads. Metro services were also severely affected, with operations suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan after water entered the tracks between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar. Authorities said truncated services were being run on other stretches as staff worked to pump out water.

Railway operations were similarly hit. Flooding in the Howrah and Sealdah station yards, as well as at Chitpur and several maintenance sheds, forced authorities to short-terminate or reschedule suburban trains. Tracks in and around Howrah station remained waterlogged through much of the day, leading to large-scale disruption for commuters.

The disruption extended beyond travel. Schools across the city were closed, some cancelling half-yearly examinations at the last moment, while office-goers were advised to remain at home. Several pandals erected for Durga Puja celebrations reported water seepage and damage to decorations. The power supply in several neighbourhoods was disrupted after localised failures, adding to the difficulties for residents trying to pump water from flooded homes.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the rainfall as “unprecedented” and expressed sympathy for families of the victims. She said she had never seen rain of such intensity in the city and urged both schools and offices to remain closed for two days. Speaking to a Bengali news channel, Banerjee also pointed to poor dredging work at Farakka and lapses on the part of power utility CESC as factors that worsened the impact of the flooding.

“Even our houses are submerged; we are all suffering,” she said, adding that she felt for the organisers of Durga Puja pandals, many of which had been damaged by the water. The Chief Minister said seven to eight people had died due to electrocution and called it “unfortunate” that lives had been lost. She announced that families of the deceased should be given jobs by the power utility and assured that the state government would extend assistance.

Meteorologists said the weather system over the Bay of Bengal could intensify, raising concerns of more flooding if the rainfall continues. For Kolkata, the sudden deluge has not only created immediate hardship but also cast a shadow over Durga Puja festivities, leaving organisers and residents anxiously watching the skies.