Kolkata Paralysed by Record Rain: 10 Dead, Flights and Metro Halted Ahead of Durga Puja

Kolkata, West Bengal, experienced an unprecedented deluge from Monday night into early Tuesday morning, September 22-23, 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people and widespread paralysis across the city. The torrential downpour, described as the heaviest in nearly four decades, caused severe waterlogging, crippling transport networks and daily life just days before the commencement of the Durga Puja festivities.

Fatalities and Record Rainfall

The majority of the fatalities, numbering at least eight to nine, were attributed to electrocution, with others reportedly dying from drowning. The city recorded exceptional rainfall figures, with areas like Garia Kamdahari receiving a staggering 332 mm in just a few hours. The Alipore weather station logged 247.5 mm of rain in 24 hours, marking it as the sixth-highest single-day rainfall in the last 137 years. This intense precipitation was caused by a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal.

Widespread Disruptions Across the City

The heavy rains brought Kolkata's vital infrastructure to a grinding halt:

• Metro Services: The Blue Line of the Kolkata Metro, specifically the stretch between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar stations, saw services suspended due to severe waterlogging. Truncated services were operational on other sections.
• Train Services: Suburban rail services were significantly disrupted, with several trains cancelled or diverted. Both the Howrah and Sealdah yards and car sheds were submerged, impacting operations.
• Flight Operations: At Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, more than 100 flights were affected, including 62 cancellations and 42 delays, as runways became inundated and airline staff struggled to reach terminals.
• Roads and Traffic: Major thoroughfares and key junctions such as Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala, College Street, EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road, and Central Avenue were submerged under knee-to-waist-deep water, leading to extensive traffic jams and stranded vehicles.
• Education and Daily Life: Schools declared holidays, and many offices advised employees to work from home. The West Bengal government announced that Puja holidays for state-run educational institutions would begin two days earlier than scheduled.

Official Response and Relief Efforts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the downpour as 'unprecedented' and attributed the electrocution deaths partly to poor dredging of the Farakka barrage and alleged lapses by the private power utility, CESC. She announced that Durga Puja inaugurations would be conducted virtually and confirmed that a control room had been established at Nabanna with helpline numbers (+91-33-22143526, +91-33-22535185, and toll-free +91-8697981070) to coordinate relief efforts. The Chief Minister also pledged to secure a job for one member of each affected family and urged CESC to provide compensation. Teams from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) were actively engaged in draining water from the affected areas.