Kolkata Grapples with Severe Waterlogging After Intense Nor'wester Rain
Large sections of Kolkata were submerged on Wednesday evening following a sudden and intense nor'wester rainstorm. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) reported a sharp increase in water levels at multiple drainage pumping stations, leading to widespread inundation that persisted for several hours across the city.
Worst-Affected Areas and Immediate Response
Some of the most severely impacted neighborhoods included Dum Dum, Belgachhia, Bidhan Sarani, Amherst Street, Muktarambabu Street, Thanthania, Marcus Square, College Street, BB Ganguly Street, Golf Green, Dhakuria, Sarat Bose Road, Park Circus, New Alipore, Mominpore, Behala, Taratala, Shakuntala Park, Joka, and parts of the Tollygunge-Jadavpur belt. According to a KMC official, the civic body's drainage pumping stations were not fully prepared for such an untimely and intense rainfall event. However, an alert from the headquarters prompted officials to swiftly activate heavy-duty pumps into service.
"We were particularly concerned about areas prone to waterlogging," the official stated. "Within less than half an hour, we directed our teams at the drainage pumping stations to operate the pumps after the downpour began. The stormwater receded more rapidly once the pumps were operational." Additionally, the official noted that a recent drainage desilting drive aided the drainage department in managing the crisis.
Unpreparedness and Rainfall Data
Despite the quick response, a drainage department official acknowledged that they were caught off guard by the intensity of the rain, which lashed several parts of the city in a short duration. Specific rainfall measurements highlighted the severity: the Kudghat-Tollygunge belt recorded 35.4 mm of rainfall in just one hour, the Dum Dum-Belgachhia belt saw 28 mm, and the Palmer Bazar drainage pumping station, responsible for north and central Kolkata areas including Amherst Street, Thanthania, College Street, and BB Ganguly Street, registered 30 mm of rainfall within an hour.
Lessons Learned and Future Preparations
In response to this unexpected event, KMC officials have decided to strengthen their drainage network to better prevent future waterlogging incidents. "Taking a lesson from the unexpected, untimely rain, we have decided to strengthen our network so that next time, we can be prepared to prevent waterlogging," an official emphasized. As part of these efforts, KMC has already installed portable pumps in Amherst Street and Thanthania and plans to deploy more in other vulnerable areas such as Bidhan Sarani, Golf Green, Jodhpur Park, Behala, and regions along the E M Bypass.
