As Kolkata immersed itself in Durga Puja celebrations, very heavy overnight showers on Tuesday brought the city and surrounding areas to a standstill. Several localities were inundated with knee-deep water, leaving bringing traffic, public transport, and daily activity to a grinding halt. Visuals shared by residents on social media showed waterlogged streets, with rainwater entering houses and residential complexes owing to the overnight rain that started past midnight.
Watch the video here
Metro, train services affected
Train and Metro Railway services were disrupted in the city and suburbs owing to waterlogging of tracks, officials said.
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 the immediate suspension of services on this stretch.
A Metro Railway Kolkata spokesperson said in order to ensure passengers' safety, services have been suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations since morning hours. "Truncated services are being run between Dakshineswar and Maidan stations," he said, adding that normal services are expected to be resumed soon.
Train movement in the Sealdah south section has been suspended, while skeleton services are being operated in the Sealdah north and main sections, an Eastern Railway official said. Services to and from Howrah and Kolkata terminals have been partially affected due to waterlogged tracks.
Train operations on the Circular Railway line were also suspended following waterlogging at Chitpur yard.
Many schools have declared a holiday in the wake of very heavy downpour and waterlogged streets.
Office-goers were having a tough time reaching their destinations because of lack of public transport and traffic snarls.
IMD predicts rain till September 25
Kolkata and its adjoining districts are on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall till Wednesday, triggered by a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal.
The city recorded unprecedented showers on Tuesday, with Garia Kamdahari receiving 332 mm of rainfall in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), Ballygunge (264 mm), and Thantania in north Kolkata (195 mm), according to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
A low-pressure area has formed over the northeast Bay of Bengal and is likely to move northwestwards, bringing widespread light to moderate rain with isolated heavy to very heavy downpour over some districts of south Bengal, the IMD said.
The IMD said heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura districts of South Bengal till Wednesday.
Adding to concerns, the weather office predicted another low-pressure area forming over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25, which could prolong the wet spell and further disrupt Durga Puja celebrations.
(With PTI inputs)
Also Read: Durga Puja 2025 pandals list: North Kolkata classics to South Kolkata showstoppers
Also Read: Dhunuchi dance: A deep dive into the soulful tradition of Durga Puja nights
