kolkata flood

A day after a cumulonimbus cloud column plunged the city into darkness, Kolkata woke up to a grey sky and steady showers on Tuesday morning.

Parts of the city were lashed by a torrential downpour on Saturday afternoon that lasted more than two hours and left several roads across central and north Kolkata waterlogged.

Desperate to prevent flooding of neighbourhoods in the Kidderpore-Ekbalpore belt, the KMC sewerage and drainage department has decided to make the new Nawab Ali drainage pumping station operational on Thursday.

The day after the government issued a notification, allowing all students from Class I to return to school from Thursday, parents made a rush to dress-makers with their children in tow, to get uniforms stitched.

Overnight rain, brought by the combination of a low pressure and a monsoon trough extending over Bengal, left several pockets of the city waterlogged

Kolkata is facing severe flooding due to heavy monsoon rains. A video of a snake catching a fish in the floodwater has gone viral. The video captures the city's spirit and humor amid the chaos. Residents are sharing the video and finding comic relief. The floods have disrupted daily life and Durga Puja preparations.

Kolkata's auto workshops are overwhelmed after Tuesday's deluge submerged thousands of vehicles, including luxury cars in underground garages. Owners face long waits for repairs, with many advised to contact insurers before attempting to start their waterlogged cars. Repair costs vary, potentially exceeding insured value for older models. Insurance claims may be challenging for vehicles damaged on flooded streets.

Parts of Salt Lake and Sector V area were waterlogged for a few hours on Thursday after a spell of heavy localized showers in east Kolkata. Several stretches of Sector V, including the main thoroughfares leading from SDF building towards Salt Lake Bypass and the stretch beside RDB Boulevard, were inundated.

The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has decided to set up a drainage network to the west of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass for the discharge of storm water that has been inundating the stretch between Dhapa and Metropolitan Housing junction.

Kolkata faced immense disruption as torrential overnight rainfall led to widespread flooding, paralyzing the city. Public transport, including trains and Metro services, was suspended, and streets became submerged, stranding vehicles. Tragically, at least three people died due to electrocution in the rain-affected areas. The IMD has warned of continued heavy rainfall in several South Bengal districts.

Heavy overnight rains disrupted life in Kolkata and parts of south Bengal, flooding streets and halting traffic and public transport. In response, the West Bengal government announced early Durga Puja holidays for state-run schools and colleges, starting September 24. Teachers and staff were advised to work from home, while the minister extended condolences to families affected by the calamity.

Finance minister Asim Dasgupta said the overall flood situation had improved in the five districts with water discharge from the reservoirs been reduced to 21,000 cusecs during the day.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for families of rain-related deaths and urged CESC to provide Rs 5 lakh for electrocution victims. At least 10 people died, nine in Kolkata due to electrocution from exposed wires amid waterlogging. The state government will ensure employment for the deceased's families, addressing the flood-like situation worsened by inadequate dredging.

In a year, residents in large stretches of Bhowanipore will get relief from the inundation they suffer every monsoon or during high tide with Kolkata Municipal Corporation taking up construction of a sewerage and drainage pumping station in Northern Park.

The similarity of Covid symptoms with that of seasonal cough-and-cold has left hundreds of Kolkatans confused and worried. While they are scurrying for medical advice and are even being scared into quarantine, a section of doctors believe the fright is unfounded, since these are more likely to be an ordinary bout of non-Covid viral attack, common at this time of the year.

Following the recent floods in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance has taken several steps to expedite the claims process. These measures include spot settlements, on-account payments for immediate financial assistance, virtual video surveys for smaller claims, a dedicated helpline, and specialized teams to ensure swift customer support.