Mamata Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex Gratia for Rain Victims' Kin as Rahul Urges Swift Action to Restore Normalcy

PTI, KOLKATA, SEPT 24, 2025 :  "Money cannot replace lives, but even if CESC does not provide jobs, we will ensure special employment is given to family members," she said, adding that the electricity utility must take responsibility for the deaths.

"I would also request CESC to provide Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families, as the deaths occurred due to their negligence," she said.

Mamata, who has been monitoring the flood-like situation in Kolkata and adjoining districts since Tuesday, claimed that water receded from most parts of the city within hours of the torrential downpour.

"Within seven hours, we managed to clear the water. This has been possible because of people's cooperation. Till 2 am, I was monitoring whether freshwater was entering the city. Water from most of the areas of Kolkata has been drained out," she said.

The Chief Minister, however, acknowledged that pockets such as Thanthania, College Street and Ballygunge remained waterlogged till Tuesday morning.

Mamata likened the deluge to the 1978 floods, saying: "It was a cloudburst kind of rain. We have not seen such rainfall in years... it was even more than 1978."

Trying to shift the blame for the inundation, she accused the Centre of neglecting dredging work in the Ganga River.

"Nature is not in our hands. Kolkata Port, Farakka Barrage, DVC's Maithon – they have not dredged for the past 20 years. Whenever it rains in Bihar or UP, water flows into West Bengal. We have to manage everything ourselves," she said.

The Chief Minister also trained her guns on Metro Railway authorities, alleging that ongoing construction activities aggravated waterlogging in Salt Lake, the city’s bustling office hub.

"Metro work is underway, and sandbags, pipes and other materials have been left unattended. Yesterday, I went to Salt Lake, and there was a huge amount of water," she said. 

Rahul Urges State Govt, Centre to Act Swiftly to Restore Normalcy

PTI, NEW DELHI, SEPT 24, 2024 :  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday offered condolences to the families of those killed due to torrential rains and flooding in Kolkata and urged both the state government and Centre to act swiftly to restore normalcy.

Kolkata struggled to return to normalcy on Wednesday as several areas, particularly Salt Lake and pockets of the north and central parts of the city, remained waterlogged, a day after torrential rain left at least 10 people dead, nine of them due to electrocution.

The downpour –– among the heaviest in nearly four decades –– left Kolkata and adjoining districts paralysed on Tuesday, crippling air, rail and road transport, shutting educational institutions, and prompting the state government to advance Puja holidays.

"My thoughts are with the people of Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal as they endure the devastation caused by incessant rainfall and flooding. Heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones," Rahul said on X