Torrential Rains Paralyse Kolkata, Claiming at Least Four Lives
Torrential overnight rain has inundated Kolkata, causing at least four deaths due to electrocution and bringing the city to a standstill. Widespread waterlogging submerged arterial roads, crippling traffic and public transport, including the suspension of Metro and Eastern Railway services on several stretches. Some areas received over 300 mm of rain in a few hours. The India Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy rainfall as a low-pressure area forms over the Bay of Bengal.
Unpacked:
Authorities have upgraded drainage capacity, installed over 100 pumping stations, and regularly clean sewers and canals. Initiatives like 'Mission Nikashi' and large-scale desilting have significantly improved the city's ability to drain heavy rainfall, reducing the duration and severity of waterlogging in many areas.
Kolkata’s vulnerability is due to intense rainfall exceeding infrastructure capacity, clogged or encroached natural buffers like wetlands and canals, rapid urbanization, and climate change leading to more extreme weather events. Outdated grey infrastructure and loss of natural drainage paths compound the issue.
A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal often triggers heavy rainfall in eastern India, including Kolkata. Such systems can intensify into depressions or cyclones, dramatically increasing the risk of flash floods and prolonged waterlogging during the monsoon season.
Nature-based solutions, like restoring wetlands, dredging canals, and rainwater harvesting, absorb excess rainwater, recharge groundwater, and provide ecological benefits. These approaches complement engineered systems and improve the city’s long-term resilience to flooding, but face challenges in implementation and public acceptance.