Kolkata experienced a deluge early Tuesday morning as parts of the city recorded over 300 mm of rainfall between 12 AM and 6 AM
Kolkata experienced a deluge early Tuesday morning as parts of the city recorded over 300 mm of rainfall between 12 AM and 6 AM, according to reports. The timing of this extreme weather could not be worse—just ahead of Durga Puja, one of West Bengal’s most important and widely celebrated festivals.
The overnight downpour brought much of Kolkata and its surrounding areas to a standstill. Traffic came to a halt, public transport was severely disrupted, and normal life was thrown into chaos. Roads in several parts of the city were inundated, causing major delays and diversions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now warned of more trouble ahead, with another potent weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal that could trigger further heavy rains and thunderstorms in the coming days.
According to the IMD, the current low-pressure area that formed over the Northeast Bay of Bengal on Monday has moved west-northwestward and now lies over the coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal, North Odisha, and the adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal. This system is expected to remain active for another 24 hours before weakening.
However, meteorologists are closely watching another low-pressure system likely to develop over the northwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal around September 25. This system is expected to intensify into a depression by September 26 and could cross the South Odisha–North Andhra Pradesh coasts around September 27.
Meanwhile, squally winds ranging from 40–50 km/h, gusting up to 60 km/h, along with rough to very rough sea conditions, are forecast along the Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal coasts between September 25 and 27. Similar conditions—with wind speeds of 35–45 km/h gusting to 55 km/h—are expected over the northeast and northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas, including West Bengal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the North Andaman Sea, until September 24. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into these areas during this period.
The adverse forecasts have raised significant concerns across West Bengal, especially as Durga Puja preparations reach their peak. The threat of intense rainfall during key festival days could lead to widespread waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas and underpasses, as well as poor visibility during downpours. Authorities have issued advisories urging residents to take shelter during heavy rain, stay indoors, and avoid contact with electrical poles or exposed wires due to the risk of electrocution.
On Tuesday, Kolkata faced major traffic disruptions as heavy waterlogging crippled large parts of the city. Key areas were submerged, leading to slow-moving traffic and transport bottlenecks. Buses, taxis, and trams were diverted from flooded stretches, and commuters reported long delays.
