Kolkata, Sep 25 (NationPress) The West Bengal government is set to establish a control room at the state secretariat (Nabanna) for the purpose of monitoring both the weather and the law and order situation in Kolkata throughout the Durga Puja festivities.

This control room aims to facilitate immediate responses in the event of natural calamities or any disturbances in law and order during the celebration.

The initiative was prompted by the city’s paralysis for over a day due to unprecedented overnight rainfall, which flooded nearly all areas of Kolkata, tragically resulting in 10 fatalities from electrocution.

While government offices will be closed during Durga Puja, the Disaster Management Department will operate continuously, ensuring public safety.

An official from the department stated, "In the face of any incident, accountability falls on the government and administration. However, our Disaster Management Department has already taken necessary measures. Our team will be on duty around the clock to prevent any inconvenience and to tackle any arising situations during this period."

The control room will be operational until Chhath Puja (from October 25 to 28). During this time, a secretary-level officer along with two monitoring team members will oversee activities, with additional staff assigned in two daily shifts. Their primary responsibility will be to monitor the weather and related events.

This monitoring team will report directly to the principal secretary of the department, with information relayed to the state chief secretary and relevant municipal corporations as well as Kolkata Police.

On Tuesday, a month’s worth of rain fell within just five hours, coinciding with a high tide in the Hooghly River, leading to extensive flooding across the city. Tragically, approximately 10 individuals were electrocuted in West Bengal, including eight in Kolkata.

Train and metro services faced disruptions, while traffic in Kolkata came to a standstill due to widespread waterlogging.