Friday 17 June 2011 was the rainiest day of Kolkata in a decade. According to the Alipore Meteorological Office it poured 154.1mm between 8.30 P.M. on Thursday and 8.30 P.M. on Friday. A big chunk of rainfall occurred between 8.30 A.M. and 2.30 P.M. on Friday. City streets were water logged within few hours of intense rainfall and were soon deserted too. The big markets, shopping centers and local shops were closed due to the heavy rainfall and those few opened for quick transactions added some more bucks on the product they were selling.
Many trees were uprooted, blocking the streets and roads around the city and causing short circuit in some places. There was high tide from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. on Friday in the river Hooghly. Kolkata is not new to this kind of situation but regular life of the citizens was completely agitated by the slicing wind and swirling water on Friday. As per the records, Friday’s rainfall qualifies for the “Very Heavy’ label. Kolkata Police used its two boats to ferry people and two more boats were kept on stand-by, just in case of any emergency.
Metro train services were postponed between Dum Dum and Girish Park for nearby four hours from 11.15 A.M., Suburban train services were also disrupted and Circular Railway services had to be stopped because of water logging. Kolkata Airport was also not spared by Mother Nature. Outgoing flights were delayed and the incoming flights were behind schedule too. Many flights were diverted to other cities because they could not land at the Kolkata Airport. Five flights were cancelled according to an Airport official.
City mayor Mr. Sovan Chatterjee stated, after seeing the water clogged roads of the city, “Kolkata is shaped like a saucer and it can handle six to seven mm of rainfall per hour. But it was much more than that today and it kept pouring”. “If it continues to rain like this, nobody can prevent water logging.” SOURCE: Calcutta Telegraph
In Kolkata, the numbers of drainage are more, maintenance is nil and the problems originate due to the clogged-up sewers are numerous and renowned. During monsoons, the situation exaggerates and results in water-logging, flood-like situations and sometimes also leads to shutdown of the electricity for a very long period. If enough pre monsoon preparations had been taken before arrival of the rainy season in Kolkata, the city can easily handle the water logging afflictions.
1). Preparatory meeting to ensure co-ordination should be ensued after any warning of
heavy rainfall.
2). Identification of the water bowls should be done.
3). Drain hollows should be cleaned in advance to ensure co-ordination.
4). Manholes should be opened on time.
One casualty occurred in the City. A driver from Dum Dum was electrocuted. According to Sarmistha Das, a resident of Dum Dum, “Some houses in our area are still water logged and causing a lot of problems for our health too.” Most affected areas are Behala and New Alipore.
Met officials say the deep depression that caused Friday's heavy rain still hangs over West Bengal, it is unlikely to create havoc in the city anymore. Most of the heavy showers are lined up for districts neighboring Jharkhand in south Bengal. The sky is likely to clear up on Monday evening. In Kolkata, Sunday will be similar to Saturday, if not better. The overcast skies will clear out by Monday noon. SOURCE: Times of India
