Kolkata rains: 11 dead, flights hit; city braces for more downpour ahead of Durga Puja

Most of the deaths, at least nine, were reported to be from electrocution, with incidents occurring in Beniapukur, Kalikapur, Netaji Nagar, Gariahat, Ekbalpur, Behala, and Haridevpur.

The Kolkata airport witnessed severe disruptions, with more than 100 flights impacted, of which 62 were cancelled and 42 delayed.

Visuals from the airport showed parts of the tarmac under water. Airlines including Air India and IndiGo issued advisories urging passengers to check flight status before travelling and to allow extra time due to traffic snarls and flooding.

City life came to a standstill as traffic, suburban rail, and Metro services were badly hit. In low-lying neighbourhoods, water entered homes, damaging property. Several schools declared a rain holiday.

According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, rainfall was especially heavy in the southern and eastern zones. The highest was at Garia Kamdahari (332 mm), followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), and Ballygunge (264 mm)- all recorded within just a few hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the downpour to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, warning that more heavy rainfall could follow.

The timing of the deluge has sparked concern, coming just days before Kolkata’s Durga Puja festivities, when elaborate puja pandals attract millions of visitors from across the world. Organisers now face the challenge of preventing damage to months of painstaking preparation.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim described the situation as unprecedented, saying: “There is so much water in my locality, too. I have never seen such a situation. The corporation is arranging food and shelter for the affected people. If it does not rain anymore, we expect the situation to return to normal by tonight.”

Meanwhile, the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) has urged citizens to stay away from waterlogged areas, dangling wires, and electric poles, given the high number of electrocution deaths reported.

As the city continues to reel under the impact, residents and incoming visitors are bracing for more disruption if the heavy rain persists.