Kolkata, Sep 23 (NationPress) A sudden cloudburst at midnight has disrupted normalcy in Kolkata, West Bengal, causing significant waterlogging throughout the city. Even the typically reliable Metro Railway faced challenges, with operations between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Rabindra Sarobar stations halted early Tuesday morning due to track flooding.

Metro officials are tirelessly working to remove the water and resume services, but many commuters found themselves stranded during the peak morning hours.

An IANS team visiting Masterda Surya Sen Metro Station encountered anxious travelers struggling with the disruption. Numerous individuals were unaware of the service suspension, resulting in no available buses, cabs, or even bike taxis. With limited transportation options, some office workers resorted to hitching rides in pickup trucks to reach their destinations.

Deepak, one frustrated commuter, expressed, “I’m trying to get to work, but it’s incredibly tough. No bike taxis are operating. We’re left with no options.”

Local resident, Lalit Parida, voiced his frustration: “We are encountering numerous problems. No buses, no cabs. It’s utter chaos.”

On a brighter note, Vicky remarked, “I was unaware of the waterlogging as I was sleeping. When I woke up, I saw the news. It reminds me of my childhood. There’s inconvenience, but that’s life.”

After torrential overnight rain caused the city to become paralyzed, resulting in seven fatalities due to electrocution, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim urged residents to stay indoors for the day.

The Mayor stated that it would take a minimum of 12 to 14 hours to restore normalcy, provided no further rainfall occurs. However, light rain has persisted across the city since morning, following a massive downpour starting at 1 A.M. from the cloudburst. Over 300 mm of rain was recorded until 5 A.M. throughout the city and suburbs.

“I have never experienced such rainfall in my life. Over 300 mm in just five hours from a cloudburst is unprecedented in Kolkata. The situation is horrific, unlike anything seen before. This has led to the overflow of rivers like the Hooghly. We opened the lock gates to drain excess water into the river, but the rivers are overflowing, causing water to backflow into the city, worsening the situation,” said Hakim.

He visited the KMC headquarters to oversee the response efforts and directed officials to work diligently to regain control, especially with Durga Puja festivities scheduled to begin on September 27.

Following record rainfall, Kolkata and its surrounding areas were submerged under knee-deep water on Tuesday, disrupting daily life significantly. Officials confirmed at least seven fatalities due to electrocution across the city.

“I urge the residents of the city to remain indoors today. We have received reports of electrocution fatalities in several locations due to short circuits or submerged electric poles. We recommend people stay safe and wait for conditions to improve,” stated the Kolkata Mayor.

Simultaneously, he could not guarantee when normalcy would return.

“Given the current situation, even with minimal rain for the next few hours, it will take a minimum of 12 to 14 hours for the waterlogging in Kolkata to normalize. The lock gate remained closed from 12:30 A.M. to 4:00 A.M. today, during which an average of 250 mm of rain fell, exacerbating the situation,” concluded Hakim.