Punchline: A festive city drowned in grief as nature tests Kolkata’s spirit before Durga Puja.
Kolkata, the heart of Bengal and the hub of Durga Puja festivities, is facing one of its toughest moments just days before the celebrations. On September 23, 2025, continuous and record-breaking rainfall turned the city into a waterlogged island. Streets that are usually buzzing with shoppers, pandal makers, and festive preparations have now become rivers, with knee-to-waist deep water in several parts of the city. The downpour brought Kolkata to a grinding halt, affecting transport, schools, businesses, and even people’s daily survival.
The tragedy became even worse when five people lost their lives, most of them to electrocution. Areas such as Beniapukur, Gariahat, Kalikapur, and Ekbalpur witnessed these incidents. Residents are terrified as waterlogged streets hide open wires and faulty transformers. Many families are staying indoors out of fear, while authorities are urging people not to step into flooded areas unless absolutely necessary.
The rainfall has been staggering. Within a few hours, Alipore recorded nearly 247 mm of rain, while places like Garia Kamdahari crossed 330 mm. Jodhpur Park, Kalighat, and Ballygunge also saw rainfall of more than 250 mm. These numbers are not just statistics—they explain why so many houses were flooded, with water entering drawing rooms, kitchens, and even bedrooms. Families reported losing furniture, clothes, and food stocks, and many had no electricity through the night.
Public life has been thrown completely out of gear. Kolkata Metro had to suspend services on multiple stretches as water seeped into underground lines. Suburban train services were delayed for hours, and major road crossings like Esplanade, Park Circus, and Ballygunge became parking lots of stranded vehicles. Schools across many areas declared sudden holidays, and airlines issued warnings to passengers about possible delays.
The Indian Meteorological Department has added to the anxiety by warning that more rain is on its way. A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify, which means Durga Puja—the grandest festival of Bengal—might face a very wet start. For puja committees, who spend months preparing elaborate pandals and decorations, this is nothing short of a nightmare. Many organizers are now rushing to cover pandals with waterproof sheets and protect electrical setups from getting damaged.
Amid this chaos, anger among citizens is rising. People are questioning why Kolkata still suffers so badly from waterlogging every year, despite promises of better drainage and modern infrastructure. Social media is filled with videos of cars submerged, residents wading through waist-deep water, and volunteers carrying stranded children to safety. The criticism is sharp against the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, with many saying that the authorities were unprepared even though heavy rainfall was predicted.
Yet, amidst the despair, Kolkata’s fighting spirit shines through. Disaster management teams, NGOs, and ordinary citizens have joined hands to distribute food packets, drinking water, and medicines. Volunteers have been rescuing people from submerged houses and helping senior citizens and children. Communities are coming together to support each other, a reminder of Kolkata’s famous resilience.
The city now stands at a crossroads—on one side, the grief of losing five lives and the hardship of thousands displaced by water; on the other, the hope of bouncing back in time to celebrate Durga Puja. For Kolkatans, the festival is more than just tradition—it is an emotion, a celebration of good over evil, and a symbol of togetherness. Even as floodwaters rise, that spirit refuses to sink.
In the end, this is not just a story of rain and waterlogging. It is a reminder of how fragile urban infrastructure can be when nature strikes hard. Kolkata is shaken, but with its people’s strength and unity, it is determined to rise again, just as it has done many times before.
FOR MORE BLOGS – beyondthepunchlines.com
Author: Team BTP
Add to favorites
