Kolkata’s streets are breathing a sigh of relief after a massive cloudburst turned the city upside down earlier this week. Heavy rains that dumped a month’s worth of water in just five hours, combined with a high tide in the Hooghly River, flooded roads across the city on Tuesday. But by Thursday morning, water levels had dropped in most areas, leaving only a handful of low-lying spots still soggy.
The downpour hit hard, paralyzing traffic, disrupting train and metro services, and leading to tragedy. At least 10 people died from electrocution in West Bengal, including eight in Kolkata, after coming into contact with exposed wires in the waterlogged streets.
Now, with clearer skies on Thursday, the focus has shifted to Durga Puja preparations. Organizers, who faced a big setback from damaged pandals due to the storm and follow-up rains, hustled to make repairs. Starting today, visitors are pouring in to check out the stunning mandaps, and lakhs more will flock to Kolkata over the next seven days for the festive celebrations.
But the city isn’t taking chances. Weather experts predict more heavy rain in Kolkata on Friday and Saturday, thanks to a low-pressure system brewing in the Bay of Bengal. Civic authorities and Kolkata Police are ramping up efforts to keep waterlogging and accidents at bay.
At a key meeting at police headquarters in Lalbazar, officers got strict orders to eliminate exposed wires and check risky lamp posts. They’re coordinating with the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) to prevent more electrocution deaths during the Durga Puja festival. Every officer will carry raincoats and umbrellas on duty, and the force is ready to handle crowds as pandals open to the public.
For smooth traffic during the festivities, police set up special barricades along roadsides to guide pedestrians safely to the pandals. Safety comes first, especially for the many out-of-towners visiting Kolkata’s famous Durga Puja pandals. Women’s safety gets extra attention, with female officers staffing most police pickets, dedicated women’s patrol teams, over 60 watch towers, and hundreds of new CCTVs installed just for the event.
On the civic side, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials promise to tackle any fresh flooding head-on. They’re fast-tracking the cleaning of major drains and canals to speed up water flow to the Hooghly River. Mobile pumps will stand ready in flood-prone Kolkata areas, and a 24-hour control room with technical teams will handle emergencies. Expect close teamwork between power companies, police, and city workers to keep everything running smoothly during the Durga Puja season.
As the festival kicks off before Sunday, Kolkata’s team is determined to ensure the rains don’t spoil the fun again.
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