Large Parts Of Kolkata Waterlogged, More Rain Likely Today

Just 20 days ahead of the Pujas and a fortnight before Id, the skies opened up on Saturday, leading to the season’s first major
waterlogging. Enthusiastic shoppers, who had braved the day-long sharp showers to hit malls and markets towards evening, were taken aback as the rain intensified. Several hours later, they were seen huddling under umbrellas and hugging their shopping bags while waiting for transport. A good many had to wade their way home.

The rain continued late into the night and the Met didn’t hold out any hope for Sunday either. The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed the Bengal coast near Digha on Saturday. Till 9.30 pm, the Met had recorded 45.4 mm rain and it was pouring till late into the night.

Farzana Chowdhury, the mayor-in-council member overseeing the KMC drainage department, said officials in all drainage pumping stations had been alerted as soon as the civic body received the Met office warning. But, by night, large parts of the city were under water. The worst-hit areas were the usual trouble spots — Ultadanga, Manicktala, Chittaranjan Avenue, College Street, AJC Bose Road, Camac Street, New Alipore, Rashbehari Avenue, Behala, parts of Tollygunge.

Through the day, crosswinds and heavy rains also affected flight operations intermittently at the airport.
The city was not alone in its suffering, though. All south Bengal districts, including South and North 24-Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura bore the brunt of the rains. The government sounded an alert in all the six districts, but ruled out a cyclone.