Kolkata, Sep 23 (NationPress) Following a night of intense rainfall that severely disrupted the city, resulting in seven tragic deaths from electrocution, Kolkata's Mayor Firhad Hakim urged residents to remain indoors for the day. The mayor noted that it could take another 12 to 14 hours for conditions to improve, provided there is no further rainfall.

The city experienced scattered light rain throughout the morning after a significant downpour starting at 1 a.m., attributed to a cloudburst. Reports indicated over 300 mm of rain fell by 5 a.m. in Kolkata and its suburbs.

"I have never witnessed such rain before. More than 300 mm in just five hours is unprecedented for Kolkata. This has led to rivers like the Hooghly overflowing. We opened the lock gates to direct water into the river, but the rivers' overflow caused backflow into the city, exacerbating the issue," stated Hakim.

The mayor visited KMC headquarters to oversee the situation and directed officials to take immediate action to manage the crisis ahead of Durga Puja, starting September 27, with puja mandaps set to open on Wednesday evening.

With record-breaking rainfall, Kolkata and nearby areas are inundated with knee-deep water, significantly disrupting daily life. Officials confirmed that at least seven individuals suffered electrocution incidents across the city.

"I urge the citizens to refrain from going outside today. There are multiple reports of electrocution due to submerged electric poles and short circuits. Please prioritize your safety and remain at home until conditions improve," advised Mayor Hakim.

He also expressed uncertainty about when normalcy could return, explaining, "Even with minimal rain for the next several hours, it will take at least 12 to 14 hours for waterlogging to clear in Kolkata. The lock gates were closed from 12:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., during which time 250 mm of rain fell, further complicating the situation."

Tarak Singh, a member of the KMC in charge of drainage and sewerage, remarked, "Such rainfall during Durga Puja is unprecedented in Kolkata. Our systems have been operational since last night, and while many culverts are functioning, some could not be activated in time, delaying drainage."

A source from the Kolkata Municipality indicated that a ‘red alert’ has been issued due to the excessive rainfall. The lock gates will need to be closed again at noon due to high tide in the Hooghly River, reopening at 4 p.m.

According to a drainage department official, forecasts suggest the possibility of heavy rain while the lock gates are closed. "If that occurs, we may again face serious waterlogging issues in Kolkata," the official warned.

Calcutta University has postponed all examinations scheduled for the day due to the severe rain and waterlogging.

Meanwhile, several car sheds, including Howrah Yard, Sealdah South Yard, and Chitpur North Cabin, have been flooded, prompting efforts to pump out the water. However, ongoing rain has caused water to accumulate on railway lines, leading to the cancellation of several long-distance trains from Sealdah this morning, including the Hazarduari Express and Sealdah-Jangipur Express. Local train routes have also been shortened.

Waterlogging along the railway tracks near Sealdah has disrupted services on the main Bangaon and Hasnabad lines. Trains are unable to reach Dumdum Junction, and delays persist on the Mainline before reaching the station.

Passengers in the Howrah division have also faced disruptions due to the continuous rainfall. Services for the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express, Howrah-Gaya Vande Bharat Express, and Howrah-Jamalpur Vande Bharat Express have been affected, along with the Black Diamond Express, Ganadevat Express, and Shatabdi Express bound for Ranchi.

Metro services have been similarly impacted by the overnight deluge, with water accumulating between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarovar stations on the Blue Line. Consequently, metro services from Shahid Khudiram to Maidan have been temporarily suspended, with services operating on a limited route from Dakshineswar to Maidan.