Kolkata was besieged by relentless rainfall over a 24-hour period, leading to significant waterlogging in several low-lying areas of the city.
Data from the Meteorological Department revealed that Kolkata received an exceptional 189.6 mm of rainfall between Monday and Tuesday evenings. Civic records from the drainage pumping stations corroborated this, showing an average of 150 mm of rain across the city—one of the highest recorded in recent years. Notably, southern Kolkata bore the brunt of the downpour, with some pockets experiencing over 200 mm of rainfall.
Among the hardest hit, the Ballygunge drainage pumping station recorded a staggering 264 mm of rain, followed by the CPT canal near Taratala with 206 mm, and Behala Flying Club at 204 mm. In contrast, Palmer Bazar in east Kolkata’s Beliaghata and central Kolkata’s Thanthania received 122.4 mm and 153.4 mm, respectively. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) drainage department encountered considerable challenges in managing the stormwater due to the coinciding high tides in the Hooghly River. The lock gates along the river had to be closed twice—first from midnight to dawn, and then again from 4 pm to 6.30 pm. This resulted in prolonged flooding in key areas such as BBD Bag, College Street, Bowbazar, Camac Street, Theatre Road, Chittaranjan Avenue, and MG Road.
A Member Mayor-in-Council overseeing the KMC sewerage and drainage department, acknowledged the complications posed by the high tides. Despite these obstacles, the KMC’s quick response team and officials from major drainage pumping stations worked diligently overnight to alleviate the waterlogging. Portable pumps were deployed to expedite the removal of stormwater from the most affected areas.
In addition to waterlogging, the city also faced disruptions due to the uprooting of numerous trees and the collapse of portions of old buildings. The disaster management group and Kolkata Traffic Police were on high alert, clearing over 40 trees from major roads between midnight and early morning to ensure the resumption of traffic flow. Reports of tree uprooting came from various locations including Southern Avenue, Lake Place, Chetla, and D L Khan Road, among others. The heavy rainfall also caused structural damage in the form of partial collapses in ten old and insecure buildings across the city. The KMC buildings department is assessing the extent of the damage and ensuring the safety of the residents.
Civic officials assured that water levels were expected to recede by Tuesday morning, bringing some relief to the city’s residents. The city’s resilience was tested once again, highlighting the need for improved drainage infrastructure to cope with such extreme weather events.
