Kolkata streets flood after heavy rain as silted drains paralyse traffic in key areas
Kolkata witnessed widespread waterlogging in central parts of the city on Monday after overnight and early morning rain exposed clogged drainage systems under BB Ganguly Street. Major stretches like CR Avenue and nearby lanes remained under knee-deep water for hours, leading to traffic jams and commuter trouble. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation blamed heavily silted drains for the crisis. Portable pumps were deployed across the area while weather forecasts indicate more rain ahead, raising concern of repeated disruptions in the coming days.
Large parts of central Kolkata remained flooded on Monday as overnight rain followed by another sharp morning spell left major roads and adjoining lanes submerged, causing traffic chaos and commuter distress. The worst-affected stretch was CR Avenue, particularly between Sovabazar and Chandni Chowk, where knee-deep water crippled vehicle movement and forced pedestrians to reroute or wade through the flooded roads. According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the primary reason for the waterlogging was the severely silted underground drainage system beneath BB Ganguly Street, a key channel for stormwater outflow. Despite ongoing desilting efforts, the choked condition of the sewer lines delayed drainage and allowed water to accumulate rapidly across surrounding areas.
“The sewer lines under BB Ganguly Street are heavily silted and could not handle the rainfall intensity. As a result, water drained very slowly and backed up into nearby streets,” said a senior KMC official. “We have mobilised multiple suction machines and deployed drainage teams to expedite water removal.” Data recorded from KMC’s drainage pumping stations reflect the rainfall intensity. Marcus Square logged 26mm while Thanthania recorded 51mm of rain between Sunday midnight and 3pm Monday. Both stations, located near College Street and CR Avenue, represent the volume of rain hitting central Kolkata.
With the drainage failing to keep pace, commuters reported long snarls and detours across the city core. One office-goer travelling to Chandni Chowk said he had to abandon the flooded CR Avenue route entirely and take internal roads to reach work. “The water in front of Indian Coffee House was ankle to shin-deep. There was no way I could walk through that without soaking myself,” he said. Police stationed around the intersections of CR Avenue and BB Ganguly Street reported that traffic moved in single file along the median divider as drivers avoided the waterlogged edges. “It was a bottleneck throughout the morning and afternoon. Vehicle speed dropped significantly,” a traffic constable confirmed.
Long lines of vehicles were seen throughout the day, with even buses and autos struggling to cross the submerged junctions. Local businesses around College Street, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, and central markets saw reduced footfall as flooding kept shoppers and vendors away. In addition to CR Avenue, several smaller lanes branching from it were also waterlogged. Residents reported water entering the entrances of ground-floor homes and shops. “This is not new. Even a few hours of rain brings water up to our doors,” a resident near Thanthania said.
KMC officials said desilting work is underway but admitted that the pace is slow and the machinery used is outdated. “We are still relying on manual and semi-mechanised tools. There is a plan to upgrade to high-capacity vacuum machines, but those are limited in number,” a civic engineer explained. Meanwhile, the Alipore Met Department has forecast more rain for the coming days. While Tuesday may bring only light to moderate rain with thundershowers, cloudy skies and humid weather will persist. On Monday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 30.1°C, which is 2.5 degrees below normal, and a minimum of 26.1°C.
Other areas such as Tangra and Chingrighata also received high rainfall, with the drainage pumping stations there recording 71mm and 73mm respectively during the same timeframe. These figures underline the broader monsoon impact sweeping across the city. Despite years of budget allocations and planned upgrades, Kolkata’s drainage system continues to buckle under even moderate rainfall. Civic activists argue that the flooding is a result of systemic neglect and poor execution. “KMC announces desilting every year, yet the same roads flood. Clearly, either the work is not done properly or not done at all,” said an urban researcher based in north Kolkata.
Social media on Monday was flooded with images and videos of stranded vehicles, submerged crossings, and frustrated commuters posting about delays. Local ward committees and civil society groups have once again demanded a full audit of central Kolkata’s underground drainage lines, especially in high-footfall areas like BB Ganguly Street, CR Avenue, and Ganesh Chandra Avenue. “We can’t afford to have education hubs, offices, and markets shut down because of poor planning. The city deserves better,” said a ward representative.
The KMC has promised more proactive work in the coming weeks and has reassured residents that the desilting in key areas would be completed before the peak monsoon. However, Monday’s situation has shaken public confidence.
As Kolkata braces for continued rainfall and uncertain skies, citizens are left hoping that the next spell does not once again turn their streets into stagnant canals.
