Kolkata, September 24 (Udaipur Kiran News): Torrential overnight rain wreaked havoc across Kolkata and parts of West Bengal, leaving the city submerged and claiming at least 10 lives, including eight in the state capital due to electrocution.

According to the state disaster management department, most of the victims in Kolkata came in contact with live wires in flooded areas. Officials fear the death toll may rise further.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed private power utility CESC for the tragedy, saying that the company failed to strengthen its infrastructure. CESC, however, clarified that most of the accidents occurred due to faulty home wiring, with two caused by direct electrocution and one at a signal kiosk. The company assured stricter safety measures going forward.

Opposition leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and BJP’s Amit Malviya, accused the state government of ignoring prior warnings issued by the weather department, leading to large-scale waterlogging and casualties.

The city came to a standstill as heavy flooding crippled transport. Several trains on Sealdah and South Eastern Railway routes were cancelled, metro services were disrupted, and over 60 flights were cancelled while more than 40 were delayed at the airport.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that Kolkata recorded its heaviest rain in 39 years — nearly 300 mm in just six hours. Localities such as Gariahat recorded 332 mm, Jadavpur Park 285 mm, and Kalighat 280 mm. Meteorologists noted that just 2 mm more rainfall within an hour would have qualified the event as a cloudburst.

The downpour also hit Durga Puja preparations, with many pandals waterlogged and decoration work stalled. Organisers said preparations had been at a standstill since Monday evening.

Hospitals like SSKM and others saw waterlogging outside their premises, though health officials maintained that medical services remained unaffected. Power supply in several areas was cut off by CESC to prevent electrocution risks, forcing many residents to spend the night without electricity.

The IMD has warned of more heavy rainfall in Kolkata and southern Bengal in the coming days due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.