Heavy rains paralyse Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja, streets waterlogged

Very heavy overnight rainfall has paralyzed normal life in Kolkata, with many parts of the city and its surrounding neighbourhoods completely inundated. The downpour, which started past midnight on Tuesday, led to severe waterlogging, causing traffic to come to a standstill and water to enter numerous houses. The Indian Met department has attributed the rain to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and has forecast more showers. An extreme deluge was recorded, with one area receiving "around 250 millimeters of rainfall which is absolutely unprecedented." The city's drainage system has reportedly collapsed, and authorities are taking precautionary measures, including closing lock gates, due to an impending high tide. This situation unfolds just days before the Durga Puja celebrations, causing concern for traffic management and festivities.