For most, homecoming ahead of Durga Puja in Kolkata means being welcomed by the sound of beating dhaaks, light decorations along sides of roads, clear blue skies, white fluffy clouds, bright sunshine, and a general feel of festivity in the air. But when digital creator SD, who goes by @_.sresthaaxx.__ on Instagram returned from Bengaluru, she was greeted by a flooded city.
In a now-viral video, SD said that this year, Pujo vibes were delivered "with extra waves". In it, the digital creator is seen landing in Kolkata and then travelling through flooded streets to reach her flooded home. "Left Bengaluru traffic, entered Kolkata Venice," she captioned the video, referring to the IT capital's infamous traffic problems.
Across the city, life ground to a halt as Kolkata received more than 250 mm of rainfall in just a few hours. Metro services were suspended on major stretches, Eastern Railway halted operations on the Sealdah south section, and Circular Railway tracks lay underwater.
"I had to walk nearly 3 km in waist-deep water from Lake Gardens to Rashbehari Avenue," said office worker Rupa Chatterjee, drenched and exhausted. "I don't know how I'll get back home tonight," she added.
Stranded commuters fumed as fares soared, watching helplessly while autorickshaws refused to ply, buses that never came, and cabs demanded four times the usual fare.
"Autorickshaws refused to ply, cabs demanded Rs 600 for a ride that usually costs Rs 150. We were left helpless," said a commuter at Park Circus.
At the airport, flight operations turned chaotic with more than 90 cancellations and over 90 delays reported till evening, leaving hundreds stranded.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who said she had "never seen rain like this," expressed grief over the deaths. "It is unfortunate that so many people have died, mostly due to electrocution," she said, adding she was in constant touch with the mayor, chief secretary and police to monitor the crisis.
Meanwhile, the meteorological office warned that a new low-pressure system is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal by Thursday, intensifying rains in Kolkata and southern Bengal by Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)
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