Heavy Rain Floods Kolkata Streets, Metro and Train Services Disrupted

Torrential overnight rainfall paralyzed Kolkata and its suburbs on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding that disrupted daily life, public transport, and infrastructure. Roads turned into rivers, homes and residential complexes were inundated, and traffic came to a standstill as the city grappled with the deluge that began past midnight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the downpour to a low-pressure system over the northeast Bay of Bengal, forecasting continued heavy rain across south Bengal until Wednesday.

Metro and train services faced significant disruptions due to waterlogged tracks. Kolkata Metro’s Blue Line suspended operations between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations, with truncated services running between Dakshineswar and Maidan to ensure passenger safety, a Metro Railway spokesperson said.

Normal operations are expected to resume soon. Eastern Railway reported suspended train services in the Sealdah south section, with limited services in the Sealdah north and main sections. Tracks at Howrah, Kolkata terminal stations, and the Circular Railway’s Chitpur yard were also waterlogged, halting train movement.

The rainfall’s intensity varied across the city, with southern and eastern areas hit hardest. Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) recorded 332 mm of rain in Garia Kamdahari, 285 mm in Jodhpur Park, 280 mm in Kalighat, 275 mm in Topsia, 264 mm in Ballygunge, and 195 mm in Thantania in north Kolkata. The flooding forced many schools to declare holidays and left office-goers stranded amid traffic snarls and scarce public transport. Residents reported water entering homes, exacerbating the chaos.

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The IMD warned of more heavy rainfall in south Bengal districts, including Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura, through Wednesday. A fresh low-pressure system is expected to form over the east-central and north Bay of Bengal around September 25, potentially intensifying the situation. Authorities are urging residents to stay cautious as the city works to restore normalcy amidst ongoing weather challenges.

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