With the vibrant Durga Puja festivities just around the corner, Kolkata finds itself grappling with the aftermath of relentless, unprecedented rain and widespread waterlogging. This Tuesday, the city awoke to a scene of damaged pandals and disrupted plans, leaving artists and puja organizers in a state of distress.
In response to the severe conditions, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cancelled her scheduled Durga Puja pandal inauguration programs for the day, urging the public to remain vigilant and prioritize safety.
South Kolkata was particularly hard-hit, experiencing the heaviest rainfall. Numerous pandals were either swept away by the gushing waters or completely submerged, a devastating blow to the intricate artistry and months of hard work.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kolkata recorded a staggering 247.5 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours, leading to extensive waterlogging across many neighborhoods. The IMD has further warned that the heavy rains are likely to persist for several more days, attributed to the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation reported alarming figures: the Garia Kamdahari area alone received 332 mm of rain within a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park with 285 mm, Kalighat with 280 mm, Topsia with 275 mm, and Ballygunge with 264 mm.
Tragically, the incessant rains and subsequent waterlogging also claimed at least nine lives due to electrocution in various parts of the city.
A Crushing Blow to Organizers and Artists
With Durga Puja just three days away, organizers are facing immense losses, impacting both their creative artworks and financial investments.
“Water gushed in from all sides. Now that the rain has momentarily ceased, we are doing our utmost to undertake urgent repair work. However, we’ve come to a stark realization: one cannot fight nature,” shared Saswata Basu, secretary of the Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee. Their puja pandal, a collaborative creation with French and Bengali artists, suffered extensive damage.
The renowned sculptors of Kumartuli in Bagh Bazaar have also been severely affected. Bankim Paul, a veteran Durga idol sculptor, recounted, “Rainwater flowed through here like a flood. We watched helplessly throughout the night. Over 60 artists’ shops have been impacted. We are now manually removing water with buckets, without any external assistance.”
While the older sections of Kumartuli in Sobhabajar, being on higher ground, escaped major damage, the remaining two to three days for idol delivery pose a significant challenge. Laborers are struggling to transport hundreds of kilos of heavy idols, wading through knee-deep water across the city.
“Many have fallen ill. We still have the daunting task of decorations once the idols reach the pandals. How will we manage all this amidst such downpour?” Mr. Paul lamented.
Political Ripples Amidst the Deluge
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who began inaugurating Durga Puja pandals on September 20, was compelled to suspend her physical appearances due to the widespread waterlogging.
“I am not physically inaugurating any pujas in Kolkata today. Instead, I will inaugurate district pujas virtually. Everyone must remain cautious for the next few days,” Ms. Banerjee stated on Tuesday afternoon.
She expressed deep concern over such a disaster occurring so close to Durga Puja, the most significant festival for the Bengali community. She appealed to other political parties not to politicize a natural calamity.
Later on Tuesday evening, the Chief Minister proceeded to inaugurate multiple district pujas via video conference. “My heartfelt wishes for Durga Puja. We must welcome Goddess Durga despite all challenges. We must move forward,” she conveyed.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to social media platform X to sharply criticize the West Bengal Chief Minister. “Durga Pujo celebrations are set to begin this week. Yet, due to Kolkata’s extremely poor drainage system, Puja pandals are submerged under water. Years of anarchy under the CPM and nearly 15 years of corruption within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation under TMC have forced Bengalis to suffer even during their biggest festival, Durga Puja,” the BJP’s post read.