Kolkata Civic Body on High Alert Ahead of Bay of Bengal Low-Pressure System
KMC deploys field teams and pumping stations to tackle possible waterlogging during Durga Puja rains.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has ramped up emergency measures in response to a developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns could intensify into a depression by Wednesday night, potentially bringing heavy rainfall and gusty winds to southern Bengal during the tail end of Durga Puja festivities.
Drawing lessons from last week's deluge that paralysed the city with severe waterlogging, civic authorities have mobilised field teams and pumping infrastructure to mitigate disruptions, emphasising proactive drainage in a metropolis where monsoon-season flooding remains a perennial challenge exacerbated by urban sprawl and ageing infrastructure.
Mayor Firhad Hakim, addressing concerns over the timing—coinciding with Nabami celebrations—assured residents of comprehensive preparedness. "Last week's heavy downpour inundated the city, causing widespread inconvenience. "This time, we are well-prepared and have taken all possible measures to prevent waterlogging," Hakim stated. KMC has deployed 176 field workers across Kolkata's streets to monitor conditions, clear manholes, and unclog stormwater drains in real time.
A dedicated task force of 20 personnel stands ready at vulnerable underpasses like Kankurgachi and Ultadanga, hotspots for accumulation during high tides when lock gates seal off canals. Hakim highlighted the operational status of the city's 86 permanent pumping stations, supplemented by 406 temporary pumps in flood-prone zones, capable of handling up to 20-22 mm of hourly rainfall before overflows occur.
The IMD's bulletin details a cyclonic circulation over the east-central Bay of Bengal fostering the low-pressure area, projected to track northwest and strengthen into a depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay by October 2 morning. It is expected to make landfall along the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around October 3, triggering thunderstorms and light-to-moderate showers across West Bengal on September 30 and October 1.
While not yet classified as a cyclone, the system poses risks of intensified precipitation during high tides, when closed lock gates hinder natural drainage—a factor that amplified last week's chaos, submerging key thoroughfares and stranding thousands during peak festival traffic. KMC drainage officials acknowledged limitations: "Excess rainfall, especially with tides, will inevitably lead to some waterlogging, but our focus is rapid drainage to minimise disruptions."
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This alert arrives amid Durga Puja's crescendo, with pandals and processions drawing millions, potentially complicating evacuations or mobility. Last week's 100+ mm rains exposed systemic gaps, including clogged sewers and inadequate desilting, prompting KMC to conduct post-mortem audits and accelerate upgrades under the Smart Cities Mission. A KMC spokesperson stressed adaptive strategies: "We're monitoring closely, learning from past incidents to refine responses."
As the system evolves, residents are urged to avoid low-lying areas, secure pandal structures against winds, and use the civic helpline for real-time updates. With West Bengal's coastal vulnerability—evident in cyclones like Amphan (2020) that killed over 100—the IMD's vigilance could avert major losses if the depression tracks offshore, but Kolkata's urban density demands swift, coordinated action to safeguard lives and festivities.
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