Kolkata rains: 6 dead, streets submerged; IMD says there’s low-pressure zone in Bay of Bengal

At least six people have died of electrocution after heavy rains battered Kolkata, causing waterlogging in several areas and bringing life to a standstill on Tuesday.

Vehicles lay stranded on arterial roads, and Metro services were suspended on a long stretch of the Blue Line as the city struggled to cope with one of its heaviest spells of rain in years. The rains played a spoilsport as the city gears up for Durga Puja festivities.

Those who lost their lives were identified as Firoz Ali Khan (50) of Beniapukur, Pranatosh Kundu (62) of Netaji Nagar, and Mumtaz Bibi (70) of Ekbalpur, besides an unidentified person in Gariahat.

Incessant rainfall since last night has raised the water level to a point where residents were seen wading through knee-to-waist-deep water at key intersections such as Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, and College Street.

The city is preparing for more rainfall, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a low-pressure system over the northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy showers to several districts in South Bengal.

Commuters complained of buses breaking down mid-way, while taxis and app cabs either stayed off the roads or charged exorbitant fares. Many schools declared a holiday as students and staff could not make their way through flooded streets.

Train and Metro Railway services were also badly hit. 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 suspension of services on this stretch.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has said that Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rain in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park at 285 mm, while the Kalighat area recorded 280 mm of rain, Topsia 275 mm, and Ballygunge 264 mm.

The weather office warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue in Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura districts till Wednesday. It added that another fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25.

With inputs from agencies