New Delhi: Torrential rains from late Monday night to Tuesday morning flooded Kolkata and surrounding areas in West Bengal. Seven people have died so far due to electrocution. Kolkata received approximately 247.5 mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
Roads are flooded with two to three feet of water. Traffic has been paralysed since morning. Numerous videos have surfaced on social media showing vehicles parked on the roads more than half submerged. Water has also entered many homes and residential complexes.
Due to flooding and bad weather at Kolkata Airport, 30 flights were cancelled and 42 were delayed. Waterlogged roads are also making it difficult for passengers to reach the airport. Metro services have been suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan metro stations due to flooding.
Railway tracks in the Howrah and Sealdah divisions are flooded. Due to this, the Hazarduari Express (13113) and Sealdah Jangipur Express (13177) trains have been cancelled. Train movement on the Circular Railway Line has been halted due to flooding in the Chitpur yard.
Due to the rain, many Durga Puja pandals were submerged and many others were damaged. The Bengal government has declared Durga Puja holidays for all government schools and colleges across the state two days ahead of schedule.
Kolkata airport tarmac flooded with water
Photos on social media showed waterlogging on the airport tarmac (plane parking area) on Tuesday morning. Air India and IndiGo have issued advisories for their passengers. The airlines have stated that flights may be delayed today. People have also been urged to leave their homes a little earlier.
A Kolkata airport official told news agency ANI that 30 flights were cancelled at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Tuesday due to bad weather. 42 flights were delayed.
Durga Puja holidays declared two days ahead of schedule in Bengal schools
The West Bengal government on Tuesday declared Puja holidays for all government educational institutions, two days ahead of schedule, following floods caused by overnight rains in Kolkata and other south Bengal districts.
State Education Minister Bratya Basu wrote on X: “All government educational institutions will be closed on September 24th and 25th. An unprecedented disaster-like situation is prevailing in the state. In the current situation, it has been decided to close all educational institutions to provide relief to students and prevent accidents.”