Since Tuesday, at least 10 people have died in rain-related incidents in Kolkata, with nine electrocuted after reportedly coming into contact with exposed or unattended electric wires in flooded areas, officials told the Press Trust of India (PTI).
In response to the tragedy, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), which supplies electricity to Kolkata and its surrounding regions, to offer Rs 5 lakh in compensation to the families of those who lost their lives due to electrocution. Additionally, she pledged employment support from the state government for the affected families.
“The state government will extend Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to each bereaved family. While money can’t bring back lives, we will ensure jobs for their families even if CESC fails to do so,” Banerjee stated, urging CESC to accept accountability for the fatalities, according to PTI.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Ekdalia Durga Puja in South Kolkata, the Chief Minister said she had been closely monitoring the situation since Tuesday. She also asserted that water had receded from most parts of the city within a few hours.
“By seven hours, we managed to drain the water. I stayed up till 2 a.m. to ensure no fresh flooding. Most areas are now clear,” she added.
However, Banerjee acknowledged that areas such as Thanthania, College Street, and Ballygunge remained submerged until Tuesday morning.
Drawing comparisons with the catastrophic 1978 floods, she said, “It was like a cloudburst. We haven’t witnessed rainfall of this scale in years — possibly worse than 1978.”
The Chief Minister also pointed fingers at the Central Government for neglecting dredging operations in the Ganga and its related catchment areas. She stated, “Kolkata Port, Farakka Barrage, and DVC’s Maithon haven’t carried out dredging in the past 20 years. Rain in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh flows into Bengal. We are left to handle it all alone,” according to PTI.
CM Banerjee further blamed Metro Railway authorities for worsening waterlogging in Salt Lake, a prominent business district, citing poor construction site management.
“Metro construction has caused blockage; sandbags, pipes, and debris have been left around carelessly. Yesterday, I visited Salt Lake and the area was inundated,” she said.
She also criticised the dumping of construction debris and household waste into drains, which contributed further to the flooding. “Despite bins being provided, people are still clogging the drainage system,” she lamented.
On Tuesday, much of Kolkata came to a standstill due to heavy overnight rain, submerging roads, stranding commuters, and disrupting normal life.
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