Kolkata woke up on Tuesday, September 23, to its third-wettest September day in nearly five decades, as heavy rains dumped 251.4 millimeters over 24 hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The rainfall, the highest in the city since 1986, marked the sixth-highest single-day total ever recorded in Kolkata.
The downpour peaked between 2:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., when nearly 185 millimeters of rain fell, narrowly missing cloudburst conditions, which require over 100 millimeters per hour. IMD officials attributed the intense spell to a low-pressure system that formed on Monday and moved toward coastal Gangetic West Bengal, creating a strong convergence of moisture over the city. Doppler radar images indicated cloud formations reaching heights of five to seven kilometers, intensifying the rainfall.
The heavy rain triggered widespread flooding across Kolkata and its suburbs. Neighborhoods near the Adiganga canal, normally efficient in draining water, were inundated as the canal overflowed, preventing natural runoff. Streets in low-lying areas were submerged, leaving residents stranded and forcing authorities to open school buildings as temporary shelters. The Kolkata Police and municipal authorities mobilized to provide food and aid to displaced families. Mayor Firhad Hakim described the flooding as “unprecedented,” highlighting the strain even on areas typically considered flood-resilient.
While the rains disrupted daily life, including transportation and local markets, the IMD said the current low-pressure system is expected to weaken by Wednesday. However, another system is forecast to form over the Bay of Bengal around September 25, potentially intensifying into a depression and crossing the South Odisha–North Andhra Pradesh coast around September 27. This could bring further light to moderate rainfall across Bengal, with isolated heavy showers in some districts over the next week.
Authorities issued warnings for fishermen along the West Bengal–Odisha coast to avoid venturing into rough seas until September 27, cautioning residents against sheltering under trees or electric poles due to risks of lightning strikes. Despite the flooding, the Met department noted that the rain may ease in West Bengal before the start of the Durga Puja festivities, allowing preparations for the festival to continue largely uninterrupted.
This monsoon season has already seen extreme rainfall events across India, including cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Chennai experienced a similar downpour on August 31, receiving 270 millimeters of rain in a single day, underscoring the intensity of rainfall events in urban centers this year.
The September 23 deluge serves as a stark reminder of Kolkata’s vulnerability to sudden, heavy rainfall, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and disaster preparedness as the city braces for possible further impacts from the Bay of Bengal system.
Authorities continue to monitor water levels and coordinate relief operations, urging residents in flood-prone zones to exercise caution and stay informed as weather conditions evolve.
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