Heavy rain paralyses Kolkata, 26 flights hit, worse may follow tomorrow
Streets wore a deserted look with fewer public and private vehicles hitting the roads. Airport operations were affected.
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal and Gangetic West Bengal paralysed life in Kolkata as overnight rains and gusts of wind lashed the city, driving the people indoors and affecting flights in the airport.
The meteorological office at Alipore warned that the inclement weather is going to last at least for the next 24 hours. The depression has affected parts of Odisha and Bangladesh as well.
At least 26 flights were affected. Some could not take off while some incoming ones were diverted to other destinations. Many passengers were stranded at the airport.
In the city fewer people and vehicles came out on the roads but they struggled to reach their destinations as water-logging slowed down the pace of traffic at several major crossings across central, southern and southwestern parts of the city.
Strong gusts of wind uprooted trees in various parts of the city, including Golf Green, Tollygunje, Park Street, Sarat Bose Road, Southern Avenue, Gariahat and Lake Town, B T Road and Shyambazar, blocking roads and tram tracks for hours. Fewer taxis and auto rickshaws added to the travails of the commuters.
The situation in the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan and Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia was no better. The Sunderbans area comprising parts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts faced more difficulties with strong wind and rains damaging some houses.
Train services were disrupted in Howrah-Burdwan main line and chord line. Several long distance trains, including Punjab mail, and Coalfield Express, were held up on the way.
Launch services across the Hooghly river connecting different points in Kolkata and Howrah were suspended.
There was no report of casualty but fallen trees have injured several persons in the districts of Kolkata, Hooghly and Howrah.
Fishermen in the district of East Midnapore, West Midnapore and North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas were asked not to start for the seas until the weather improves.
Parts of Bankura district became inaccessible from the neighbouring districts of Burdwan and West Midnapore as overflowing canals cut off road connectivity.