Kolkata, 11 October (H.S.): Heavy rainfall once again brought Kolkata to its knees on Friday afternoon, exposing the city’s poor drainage system. Despite recent criticism over inadequate water management during the Durga Puja period — when 11 people lost their lives due to flooding — the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) appears to have learned little. Within just 30 minutes, nearly 70 mm of rain was recorded, leaving large parts of the metropolis inundated.

According to the KMC, south Kolkata’s Jodhpur Park received 83 mm of rain in two hours, while Ballygunge recorded 58 mm. Salt Lake also witnessed heavy rainfall, resulting in extensive waterlogging across multiple localities. From Sukia Street and Thanthania in the north to Alipore and Behala in the south, many major roads were submerged for hours. Areas such as Kasba, Tiljala, and Topsia faced prolonged waterlogging that continued late into the night.

The downpour, which coincided with office hours, caused massive disruption to daily life. Reduced visibility forced motorists to drive with headlights on during the day, and several roads became impassable due to knee-deep water.

KMC sanitation officials claimed that water had been drained from most key roads by evening, but admitted that parts of Thanthania, Maniktala, Tiljala, and Topsia remained waterlogged well into the night. The stagnant water led to severe traffic congestion and delays for commuters returning home.

A senior drainage department official explained that plastic waste and thermocol debris, carried along with the rainwater, frequently blocked the pumping stations. “We have to stop the pumps to remove the waste, otherwise the machinery could be damaged. This is the main reason for the delay in draining out the water,” he said.

Officials also pointed out that open manholes and clogged catchpits often worsen the problem. “People tend to dump garbage and polythene into open drains, which obstructs the flow of water,” said one KMC officer. “We conduct regular cleaning, but the issue persists.”

The civic body claims that areas like Thanthania and Sukia Street, which earlier took up to 72 hours for water to recede, now drain within four hours — a claim contradicted by Saturday morning’s situation, as many neighbourhoods were still under water.

Despite repeated assurances and technological upgrades, the recurring scenes of flooded streets continue to highlight Kolkata’s fragile infrastructure and the urgent need for a sustainable drainage solution.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh