Overnight rain triggers flooding, disrupts life in Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja

Heavy overnight rainfall for about seven hours triggered flooding, disrupted traffic, train, and metro railway services in Kolkata on Tuesday, prompting the closure of some schools even as more rain was expected ahead of Durga Puja, West Bengal’s biggest carnival.

The intensity of rain was higher in Kolkata’s southern and eastern parts. (HT PHOTO)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a low-pressure area over the northeast Bay of Bengal was likely to bring heavy rain to south Bengal, including Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and Bankura districts until Wednesday.

The intensity of rain was higher in Kolkata’s southern and eastern parts. Garia Kamdahari recorded 332 mm of rain in a few hours, Jodhpur Park 285 mm, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said. Kalighat recorded 280 mm of rain, Topsia 275 mm, and Ballygunge 264 mm. Thantania (north Kolkata) received 195 mm of rain.