Kolkata Rains LIVE: Electrocution, Waterlogging Kill Seven People
In western Maharashtra, relentless torrential rains over the last 24 hours have caused severe flooding, leaving one person dead and 14 others stranded in rising floodwaters, as rescue teams struggle to reach affected areas amid worsening weather conditions.
Kolkata, Odisha, Maharashtra Reel Under Heavy Rains: Low-Pressure Systems Trigger ChaosThe monsoon season has once again unleashed its fury across eastern and western parts of India, leaving behind stories of destruction, resilience, and uncertainty. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Monday, September 22, 2025, that a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the northeast Bay of Bengal, which is expected to intensify rainfall across several regions, particularly in Odisha. The system, born under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation, has already shown its impact. Officials further cautioned that another low-pressure area is likely to develop over the east-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25, potentially adding to the woes of residents in the eastern coastal states.
While these warnings might sound routine during the monsoon, the real-life consequences were starkly visible in Kolkata and western Maharashtra, where overnight showers and continuous inflow into reservoirs disrupted normal life and tested the limits of local infrastructure.
# Kolkata Drowns Overnight
In the city of Kolkata, the rains were relentless. Residents woke up on Tuesday morning to find roads submerged under knee-deep water, vehicles stalled, and entire neighborhoods cut off from the rest of the city. For many, it was not just a matter of inconvenience but also a struggle for safety.
“It was like a cloudburst in some of these areas,” a revenue official admitted, hinting at the sheer intensity of the rainfall. For families in low-lying areas, water had already seeped into houses and residential complexes by dawn, damaging belongings and forcing people to wade through filthy floodwaters.
The scenes across Kolkata reflected the vulnerability of urban spaces to extreme weather. Daily wage workers found themselves stranded without transport, office-goers were unable to step out, and children remained indoors as schools and universities suspended activities.
# Academic Life Disrupted
The education sector in Kolkata bore the immediate brunt of the weather. Both Calcutta University (CU) and Jadavpur University (JU) issued urgent notices on Tuesday morning, declaring suspension of all academic activities.
The CU Registrar, in an official statement, announced that all semester examinations scheduled for the day had been cancelled. “Due to heavy overnight rain and waterlogging in different parts of Kolkata, the scheduled semester exams in different subjects for Tuesday have been cancelled. The dates when the exams will be held will be announced later,” the notice clarified.
JU followed suit, stating that the midnight downpour and subsequent waterlogging made it impossible to conduct classes and examinations. For thousands of students, the disruption came as an unexpected blow, especially for those who had prepared for crucial assessments.
# Maharashtra’s Struggle with Floods
While eastern India grappled with low-pressure systems and waterlogging, western Maharashtra faced its own crisis. Torrential rains over the past 24 hours left one person dead and stranded at least 14 others in floodwaters. Rescue teams had to work tirelessly to reach the affected, but rising water levels made their job increasingly difficult.
Adding to the challenge, two dams—Majalgaon and another nearby structure—were almost full, forcing authorities to discharge water. Continuous inflow meant that catchment areas like Javlala and Ramoda received alarming levels of rainfall—160 mm and 120 mm, respectively—since Monday night. For villagers living downstream, the release of dam water meant heightened flood risk, forcing some families to leave their homes in search of safer ground.
# Human Side of the Crisis
Behind every statistic and bulletin lies a human story. In Kolkata, middle-aged homemakers spent the night anxiously guarding their homes from floodwater entering their kitchens. Shopkeepers in bustling markets like Gariahat and Burrabazar lamented lost business as shutters remained down. Auto-rickshaw drivers and taxi operators counted their losses as vehicles lay half-submerged in waterlogged streets.
In Maharashtra, farmers in flood-affected villages feared for their standing crops. “The fields were already waterlogged last week. If this continues, we won’t have much left to harvest,” said a farmer from the Marathwada region, his voice heavy with worry.
Rescue workers, however, offered a glimpse of hope. Many risked their lives to ferry stranded families to safety. Children clung to the shoulders of civil defense volunteers as they waded through waist-deep waters. Elderly residents, too weak to walk, were carried on makeshift rafts or in the arms of neighbors.
# The Days Ahead
With another low-pressure system looming in the Bay of Bengal and reservoirs in Maharashtra under stress, meteorologists fear the situation may worsen before it improves. Officials are urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious, stock up on essentials, and avoid unnecessary travel.
For now, life in parts of Kolkata and western Maharashtra remains disrupted. But amidst the chaos, what shines through is the resilience of ordinary people—families helping neighbors, students volunteering in rescue efforts, and local authorities working around the clock to minimize damage.
The rains may have thrown life out of gear, but they also revealed the spirit of communities determined to endure, rebuild, and hope for calmer days ahead.