Kolkata Rain Floods Durga Puja Pandals

Kolkata, known for its grand Durga Puja celebrations, has been hit by some of the heaviest rains in nearly four decades, causing severe waterlogging across the city. This unexpected downpour has left many Durga Puja pandals submerged and damaged, casting a shadow over the much-awaited festival preparations just days before Mahalaya.

The torrential rains that began late Monday night and continued for several hours have flooded streets, railway tracks, and metro stretches, leaving the city paralysed. Major roads such as EM Bypass and AJC Bose Road turned into rivers of stalled vehicles, while many low-lying areas including parts of Behala, Ultadanga, and Salt Lake experienced knee-deep waterlogging. This flooding has severely disrupted everyday life, including transportation, power supply, and public safety, with at least 10 people losing their lives, many due to electrocution incidents from live wires submerged in water.

The intense rainfall also badly affected the elaborate Durga Puja preparations. Many pandals, the temporary decorative structures built for the festival, have suffered damage to their artwork, lighting, and electrical fittings. For instance, at Hatibagan Nabin Pally and Bosepukur Talbagan, organizers reported significant water entry inside the pandal causing parts of walls to come off, plywood panels to be damaged, and decorations spoiled. Electric supply had to be cut off as a precaution to prevent accidents. Similarly, pandals made with bamboo, clay, thermocol, and plywood have seen their art and decoration materials soaked or ruined due to prolonged waterlogging.

Festival organizers express deep concern as weeks of hard work got washed away in hours. While many volunteers are working around the clock to salvage what they can, the scale of damage is a major setback. Some pandals have started emergency pumping and drying efforts, while others are looking for alternatives like laying raised wooden platforms and using tarpaulins to protect idols and art. Despite these challenges, volunteer spirit remains strong, emphasizing that the essence of Puja will endure beyond the physical damage.

Local authorities have been actively involved, deploying pumping stations to drain floodwaters and restoring electricity cautiously in affected areas. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim acknowledged the shortcomings in drainage infrastructure, noting that certain areas without proper drainage faced worse flooding. He called the situation a "misfortune" but assured citizens that efforts to normalize conditions are ongoing, hoping that no further rain would disrupt the festival. Schools and colleges have been preponed for their holidays to accommodate the difficult conditions.

The heavy rains and associated hardships have highlighted the city's persistent urban planning challenges, especially in managing such intense weather events. While this natural calamity has disrupted the vibrant Durga Puja festivities temporarily, it serves as a reminder of the need for improved infrastructure resilience to protect cultural celebrations and everyday life.

In conclusion, Kolkata’s residents and Durga Puja organizers face a tough situation with the unexpected and severe rainfall. Yet, through community effort and determination, the spirit of Durga Puja remains alive, promising that once the waters recede, the city will come together to celebrate with renewed joy and devotion.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies