Kolkata's Torrential '40-Year Rain': City Paralyzed, Lives Disrupted

Overnight rainfall wreaked havoc in Kolkata, halting city life as families grappled with knee-deep water and halted vehicles. The torrential rain, the most severe in nearly 40 years, resulted in at least 10 fatalities—nine due to electrocution—and spurred the state government to close schools and adjust Durga Puja schedules.

In less than 24 hours, Kolkata experienced 251.4 mm of rain, the highest since 1986 and among the six heaviest single-day recordings in 137 years, surpassed only by the infamous 1978 floods. The deluge submerged main roads, disrupted metro and train services, and even affected air travel, as residents struggled for normalcy ahead of West Bengal's major festival.

Predicting further rains, officials warned of an intensifying weather system by Thursday, reinforcing the city's fight against the flood aftermath. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed sorrow over the rain-induced tragedies, stressing constant monitoring of the evolving situation.