Big tree collapses at CR Avenue amid heavy rain, electric wires snapped as well

Kolkata woke up to widespread waterlogging on Tuesday morning following torrential overnight rains, severely disrupting daily life across the city and its suburbs. Areas such as Central Avenue, Thanthania, Shyambazar, Dhakuria, Ballygunge, Behala, and parts of the EM Bypass experienced significant water accumulation. Adding to the city's woes, a large tree fell on Darik Guha Lane near Central Avenue, completely blocking traffic and damaging overhead wires, though fortunately, no casualties were reported. Civic workers swiftly began clearing the fallen tree, battling the ongoing downpour.

The relentless rainfall has created challenging conditions across Kolkata, from north to south. Underpasses in Kakurgachi, Patipukur, and Ultadanga are inundated, with water levels ranging from ankle-deep to knee-high. Salt Lake's Sector-5 and parts of Howrah city are also submerged, compounding the difficulties for commuters and residents alike. The continuous deluge has stretched the city's drainage systems to their limits, making it arduous for civic bodies to manage the overflowing streets.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of light to moderate rainfall across the entire region, with isolated heavy rainfall expected over the next 24 hours. Western districts such as Purulia and Jhargram are also bracing for significant downpours. This forecast indicates that the current challenging weather conditions are likely to persist, further complicating the efforts to clear waterlogged areas.

According to the IMD, the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is causing strong winds over the sea. Surface wind speeds of 35 to 45 kilometers per hour, potentially gusting up to 55 kilometers per hour, are expected along the West Bengal-Odisha coast and in the North Bay of Bengal between July 7 and 8. The sea conditions remain very rough, prompting authorities to issue a strict advisory to fishermen against venturing into the sea.

Civic workers are diligently engaged in water drainage operations across Kolkata. However, the continuous nature of the rainfall is hampering their efforts, leading to delays in normalizing the situation. Officials have expressed concern that if the heavy rainfall persists, it could further impede drainage efforts, potentially worsening the flood-like conditions in affected areas.