Large areas of Kolkata and its surroundings waterlogged due to torrential rains

Kolkata experienced a standstill on Monday (August 17, 2026) due to relentless rain induced by a deep depression that began early that day. The relentless downpours triggered waterlogging in numerous areas, disrupting traffic flow during typical office hours. Intense rainfall was reported across various parts of West Bengal, as a low-pressure system rapidly evolved into a depression over the Northwest Bay of Bengal.

The Alipore Regional Meteorological Centre reported the system near Kolkata around 8:30 a.m., with a potential shift towards Jharkhand and Bihar within the next 24 hours.

Haldia in Purba Medinipur district recorded the highest rainfall of 134 mm in 24 hours by 8:30 a.m. on Monday (August 17). Digha in the coastal town of South 24 Parganas district received 113 mm of rain, while Diamond Harbour recorded 112 mm during the same period. Following heavy rain since the previous night (August 16), numerous roads in Kolkata and nearby Salt Lake and Howrah became inundated, with knee-deep water seen on several major thoroughfares.

Central Avenue, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thanthania, College Street, Amherst Street, Park Circus Connector, and Khidirpur witnessed significant traffic congestion due to severe waterlogging.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted extremely heavy rainfall for Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, and Bankura districts on Monday (August 17). Very heavy downpours were expected over Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Purulia, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba, and Paschim Bardhaman.