12 killed in India’s Kolkata as torrential rain hits city

(Web Desk): At least 12 people have died due to heavy rainfall in the Indian city of Kolkata and its surrounding areas.

According to news agency Reuters, the rains flooded city streets, crippled the transport system, and left residents stranded for hours. The situation unfolded just days before a major religious festival.

H.R. Biswas, head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in the Kolkata region, stated that most of the rain fell during the early hours of Tuesday morning, recording 251.6 mm (9.9 inches) in 24 hours — the highest rainfall in the city since 1988.

Police reported that 9 of the deaths occurred in Kolkata, with most victims electrocuted, while two others drowned.

The rains brought the state capital to a standstill and severely impacted preparations for Durga Puja, the biggest annual Hindu festival in West Bengal. Temporary bamboo structures and clay idols set up across the city were damaged.

In many areas, roads were submerged waist-deep, vehicles were stranded, and people were forced to wade through water.

Road, rail, and air traffic were severely affected. Numerous flights and trains were cancelled or delayed, and prolonged power outages in several areas added to the residents’ difficulties.

Ranjan Panda, an expert on water and environmental issues, said, “My flight was cancelled, and roads were flooded, so I got stuck in my hotel.”

Authorities have installed pumps to drain water from roads and railway tracks. Relief efforts, including food distribution and emergency services, are ongoing.

The meteorological department has forecast more rain in the coming days across the state and eastern India due to a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.

The state government has announced the closure of schools and other educational institutions on Wednesday and Thursday, leading into the festival holidays starting Friday.

Officials said the situation is expected to normalize by Wednesday evening, but residents in low-lying areas have been advised to remain cautious until the water recedes.

Sandeep Ghosh, a Kolkata resident, told Indian news agency ANI, “This should not have happened after just four hours of rain. West Bengal is not in a good state.”