Heavy rains have turned parts of Kolkata into a watery nightmare, leaving residents stranded and sparking fierce political blame. On Tuesday, Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell chief and central observer for West Bengal, slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for what he called “criminal negligence” in handling the disaster.
Malviya said the chaos could have been prevented if the state had heeded warnings from the Alipore Meteorological Department. Officials flagged heavy rainfall risks during Durga Puja a full month ago, but nothing happened. One night of downpours submerged large areas of the city, causing massive waterlogging, power cuts, and tragic deaths from electrocution as live wires dipped into floodwaters.
Pointing fingers at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, Malviya described the mess as a “direct result of criminal negligence and breathtaking apathy.” In a sharp post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “The Alipore MET department issued a warning a month ago about incessant rainfall during Puja. One month! Their response? Absolute, deafening silence. No plans. No preparation. They just sat back and let the waters rise. This isn’t just a governance failure; it’s a deliberate betrayal of every single person in this city.”
He also blamed illegal pond-filling, unauthorized buildings, and neglected drainage upgrades for worsening the Kolkata floods. Small traders suffered the most, with dreams washed away and losses running into crores as goods got ruined. Malviya took a dig at Banerjee’s vision to transform Kolkata into a London-like hub, calling it a “hollowed-out, flooded shell” where corruption lets citizens pay the price in this man-made deluge.
On the other side, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee moved quickly to address the West Bengal disaster. In a Tuesday afternoon statement, she announced a 24-hour control room at the state secretariat to track the situation. Banerjee said she’s personally leading relief and rescue efforts. “I am not going to inaugurate any Durga Puja pandal today. I will only join a few inaugurations in the districts virtually. We all have to remain cautious for the next few days,” she added.
As Kolkata residents battle the aftermath of heavy rain and waterlogging, the political heat keeps rising ahead of the festive season.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
