Repeated heavy rain has left Kolkata and various districts of South Bengal in disarray. Rain fell intermittently in Kolkata again on Wednesday, leaving water pooled on roads across the city and causing traffic jams and public suffering. Commuters heading to schools, colleges, offices and workplaces faced difficulties. Heavy rain also disrupted communication networks in Bankura and Purulia.
In Bankura, a bridge collapsed and several causeways were submerged. Meanwhile, rising water levels in the Mayurakshi river in Birbhum have raised fears of flooding. In Howrah, the body of a young man was found floating in pooled rainwater.
A low-pressure area that formed over the Bay of Bengal has been gradually moving into Gangetic West Bengal, triggering rain across South Bengal since Monday. Its effects continued in Kolkata and other districts on Wednesday, with rain expected to persist for several more hours given current weather conditions.
According to Kolkata Municipal Corporation figures, 56 millimeters of rain fell in the Palmer Bridge area between noon and 3 p.m. Wednesday, along with 46 mm in Topsia, 44 mm in Ballygunge and 43 mm in Mominpur.
Water pooled beneath the Baghajatin flyover and in parts of Thakurpukur as a result of the rain. Water also collected on Woodburn Park Road, Hospital Road, ATM Road, Justice Chandra Madhab Road, Hastings Park Road, in front of Uttirno, PTS, Port Area Gate No. 5, Burdwan Road and DH Road.
Pedestrians and vehicles alike struggled with pooled water near the flyover exit close to Hastings. Water also collected on Central Amherst Street, Theatre Road and Waterloo Street. Kalighat, Harish Mukherjee Street and the road in front of the National Library, in the Bhowanipore assembly area, were also flooded, trapping daily commuters in traffic. With fewer vehicles than usual on the roads because of the continuous rain, the disruption was even worse.
Bamboo bridge collapses in Bankura
Continuous heavy rain has disrupted the communication network across Bankura district. The powerful current of the Dumuni canal broke a bamboo bridge in the Jamkuri gram panchayat area of the district’s Patrasayer block, cutting off communication between the two sides.
Locals say the bridge was built roughly three years ago with funds allocated by the Bankura Zilla Parishad. With it swept away, 20 to 25 villages in the area have been effectively cut off from Patrasayer block headquarters.
Meanwhile, rising water levels in the Dwarakeshwar river have submerged two separate causeways at Bhadul and Meenapur. In Mejia, a causeway was submerged by water from the Matabel canal, halting vehicle movement on the Mejia-Chhatna state highway.
That causeway is used by residents of roughly 20 villages, including Baliara and Sonatpal, to travel to Bankura town. With the Dwarakeshwar river’s water flowing over the causeway in a powerful current, vehicle movement has been completely halted. Travel has similarly been suspended at the Meenapur causeway near Bankura town.
Mayurakshi water rising, flooding feared
Rain has also pushed up water levels in Birbhum’s Mayurakshi river. Roughly 9,000 cusecs of water was released from the Dim Paira dam on Wednesday morning, raising fears of flooding in areas along the river.
According to district administration sources, if the river’s water continues rising at its current pace, more water may need to be released from the dam — a prospect that has raised concern among residents of areas along the river.
Young man’s body found in floodwater in Howrah
Separately, the body of a young man was found floating in pooled rainwater in the Makardaha area of Domjur, Howrah. The deceased was identified as Sahadev Bachar.
According to local sources, Bachar had gone to the market Wednesday afternoon. He died near his home while returning from the market. Locals then alerted Domjur police station. Police went to the scene, recovered the body and sent it for postmortem examination.
How he died remains unclear. Some locals believe he may have been electrocuted, though that has not been confirmed.
Locals say water in the Makardaha area has pooled waist-deep in some spots and knee-deep in others. The area has had a long-standing waterlogging problem, residents say, and they allege no permanent solution has been found despite repeatedly raising the issue with authorities.