A massive Kalbaishakhi storm hit Kolkata and nearby areas for just an hour, but it was enough to cause major damage. Uprooted trees and heavy waterlogging have brought traffic to a standstill on many city roads and train services have been hit.
Kolkata and its neighbouring districts faced massive damage from a short but intense Kalbaishakhi storm. Just one hour of strong winds and heavy rain uprooted trees on major roads and flooded low-lying areas.
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Road Clearing Work Has Begun
The storm's high wind speeds brought traffic to a complete stop in busy areas like Alipore, Ballygunge, Strand Road, and Central Avenue. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and disaster management teams are now working on a war footing to clear the roads.
In South Kolkata, fallen trees completely blocked traffic at Hazra More, Rashbehari Connector, and near Dhakuria. North Kolkata also saw huge traffic jams in Girish Park and on Chittaranjan Avenue due to uprooted trees.
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Disaster as Trees Fall on Cars:
Heavy tree branches fell on several parked cars in Park Street and the Salt Lake Karunamoyee area. Luckily, no major injuries have been reported so far. The storm also snapped overhead power lines, forcing CESC to cut electricity in some areas for safety.
That familiar sight of waterlogged streets is back in Kolkata after just one hour of heavy rain. Key roads like Ballygunge Circular Road, Theatre Road, Amherst Street, and the area near Thanthania Kalibari are now underwater. Pedestrians and bikers have no choice but to wade through knee-deep water.
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Kolkata Municipal Corporation's Swift Action
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation's control room is monitoring the situation closely. They are trying to speed up the water drainage process using lock gates and pumping stations. However, the high tide in the Ganga river is making the water recede slowly.
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Severe Impact on Public Transport
The storm also affected public transport. Metro services on the open-air section of the Kavi Subhash to Dum Dum route stopped for a while after tree branches fell on the tracks. However, the underground metro services are running normally.
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Train Services Disrupted
Local train services on the Sealdah South section and the Howrah line also slowed down for some time. This happened because banana leaves and branches fell on the overhead wires. Railway staff are working quickly to clear the tracks.
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Important Alert for the Public
Stay away from open wires; don't go near lampposts or hanging electrical wires in waterlogged areas. Also, don't take shelter under big trees or inside broken buildings. The weather office says more scattered storms are possible.
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Important Alert for the Public
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has shared helpline numbers. For any emergency or to get a fallen tree removed, you can call the Central Control Room at 033-22861212 or 033-22861313.
