Monsoon brings joy to Kolkata and destruction to Himachal as rain continues across India
The monsoon season has arrived in full force, bringing two sharply contrasting realities to different corners of the country. While Kolkata witnessed joy and cooler weather despite urban chaos, Himachal Pradesh is struggling with severe monsoon damage including flash floods and landslides.
A fresh spell of rain drenched Kolkata and parts of South Bengal on Tuesday, offering much-needed respite from the summer heat. However, the overnight showers also exposed the city’s chronic drainage issues, leading to waterlogging in areas like Salt Lake, Howrah and Central Kolkata. Office workers and students were seen wading through waterlogged streets, and several public transport routes faced disruptions. According to the India Meteorological Department, Uluberia in Howrah recorded the highest rainfall at 111 millimetres in 24 hours. Dum Dum reported 99 millimetres, while Salt Lake recorded 88.3 and Kolkata logged 81.6 millimetres.
Despite the urban inconvenience, the rains lifted spirits. Children played in the flooded lanes, street vendors reported more footfall, and the city enjoyed noticeably cooler temperatures. Authorities remain on alert, with moderate to heavy rain expected to continue till Wednesday. In stark contrast, Himachal Pradesh has been facing the brutal impact of extreme monsoon weather. With over 200 millimetres of rainfall recorded between June 1 and July 8, the state has been hit by repeated landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods.
Mandi district remains one of the worst affected regions, with more than 150 roads still blocked. Across the state, nearly 200 roads are closed, and hundreds of power transformers and water supply schemes remain disrupted. Approximately 450 people have taken shelter in relief camps.
In Dehradun, heavy rains uprooted trees and damaged homes. The state government has announced rental assistance of ten thousand rupees per month for families whose houses have been declared unsafe. A special relief package is also being prepared for severely affected families. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in several districts including Chamba, Kangra, Shimla, Kullu, Solan and Mandi. The government has also raised concerns about reckless hill cutting, especially for road projects, which locals believe is weakening slopes and increasing landslide risks.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited affected areas and promised to address public grievances with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The Chief Minister described the disaster as not just a financial blow but a deep social and emotional setback for the people of the state. Between June 30 and July 1 alone, 30 hours of continuous rainfall triggered ten cloudbursts and caused significant damage. Over 460 houses, 90 shops, 14 bridges and more than 30 vehicles have been damaged so far.
