Seven electrocuted as record heavy rain disrupts life in Kolkata

Amid record overnight rainfall, Kolkata and its surrounding areas were submerged under knee-deep water on Tuesday, disrupting daily life. Officials reported that at least seven people were electrocuted in the city.

Over 300 mm of rain was recorded across the city, which began at 1 a.m. and continued till early morning. Train services and metro services were disrupted, while traffic in Kolkata was completely paralysed as almost every road was waterlogged.

Due to incessant rain, electricity and Internet services have been disrupted in a large part of Kolkata and its suburbs.

Several Durga Puja mandaps



have been damaged due to heavy showers, causing great inconvenience to puja organisers. Water entered many houses and residential complexes in Kolkata as roads went underwater.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is working on a war footing to drain the water out of the city into the River Hooghly as all lock gates have been opened since 4 a.m. Even as work is on, it is raining in some parts of Kolkata.

The Meteorological (MeT) office has forecast more rain later in the day and coming days as a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal is likely to bring heavy rain in several south Bengal districts and Kolkata.