Deaths rise to nine in Kolkata as record rainfall floods city, disrupts trains, and paralyzes transport. Electrocution tragedies prompt government aid and compensation.
By Qalam Times News Network | Kolkata | September 23, 2025
Deaths Reported Amid Waterlogged Kolkata
Deaths due to electrocution shook Kolkata on Tuesday as the city reeled under record-breaking rainfall that shattered a 121-year-old mark. Overnight downpours left major roads, neighborhoods, and transport systems submerged, creating chaos across the metropolis. At least nine lives were lost, most of them electrocuted after coming into contact with live wires or submerged lampposts.
List of Tragic Deaths Across City
According to police and administrative sources, fatalities occurred in multiple localities:
- An elderly man died on Hossain Shah Road in Mominpur.
- Two people were electrocuted in Netajinagar and Beniapukur.
- Another body was recovered from waterlogged Gariahat.
- A cyclist was found dead in Kalikapur.
- Electrocution deaths were also reported in Behala and Haridevpur.
- A man’s body was recovered in Ballygunge, though the cause is yet to be confirmed.
- Another fatality was reported from Minto Park.
The state government has announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each victim’s family, along with the assurance of a government job for one family member, following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s directive. She also instructed Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to coordinate with CESC regarding accountability.
Record Rainfall Brings Kolkata to a Halt
The rainfall measured over 300 millimeters in just a few hours, breaking more than a century-old record. From central to southern Kolkata, waterlogged streets left buses off the roads, forcing commuters to depend on autos and rickshaws. Traffic police listed severe snarls at key points including EM Bypass, Maa Flyover, Amherst Street, AJC Bose Road, Rabindra Sarani, and Ultadanga.
Train Services Paralyzed
Deaths were not the only fallout—rail services collapsed under the flooding. Metro services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations due to water on the tracks. At Park Circus, waterlogging disrupted operations on Sealdah’s South Section.
Several local trains from Howrah were canceled, including:
- 36081 Howrah–Mashagram
- 37215 Howrah–Bandel
- 37353 Howrah–Tarakeswar
- 37307 Howrah–Haripal
From Sealdah, the Hazar Duari Express and Sealdah–Jangipur Express were canceled. At Chitpur yard, waterlogging forced suspension of circular railway services. Even premium trains like Shatabdi Express, Vande Bharat, and Black Diamond were controlled or delayed due to flooded tracks at Howrah and nearby car sheds.
Life in Standstill
With large parts of the city submerged, homes, vehicles, and businesses remain under water. The combination of mounting deaths, transport paralysis, and flooding has plunged Kolkata into a humanitarian and civic crisis not seen in generations.
