Kolkata's Catastrophic Downpour Ignites Fiery Political Showdown Over Rain Data and Responsibility

Kolkata, the City of Joy, recently grappled with a devastating downpour that not only submerged its streets but also ignited a fierce political storm. In the wake of two tragic deaths and widespread waterlogging, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have locked horns, trading accusations over rainfall data, disaster management, and accountability.

The core of the dispute revolves around the amount of rainfall Kolkata truly received on that fateful day.

Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, representing the TMC, was quick to state that the city recorded approximately 85 mm of rain. He emphasized that this figure falls well below the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) threshold of 200 mm for "extremely heavy" rainfall. Hakim vehemently condemned the BJP's attempts to "politicize a natural calamity," asserting that the fatalities – one from electrocution and another from a wall collapse – were tragic but distinct from the direct impact of drowning in floodwaters.

His stance was clear: the BJP was capitalizing on human suffering for political gain.

However, the BJP was far from silent. State President Sukanta Majumdar launched a scathing attack, accusing the TMC-led Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) of gross negligence and failure to effectively manage the city's drainage system.

Majumdar pointed out what he perceives as a consistent pattern of the KMC's inability to prevent severe waterlogging, even after moderate rainfall. He questioned the KMC's reported rainfall data, suggesting a deliberate attempt to downplay the severity of the situation and evade responsibility. "It is the responsibility of the KMC to ensure the safety of the citizens," Majumdar declared, demanding accountability for the preventable deaths and widespread disruption.

Adding another layer to this contentious debate, the IMD's Alipore office provided its own data.

According to the IMD, Kolkata received a significant 111.4 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 AM on March 19, with the majority occurring between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM on March 18. This amount, while not "extremely heavy," still falls under the "very heavy rain" category, defined as between 64.5 mm and 124.4 mm.

The IMD's figures implicitly contradict the KMC's lower estimate, lending credence to the BJP's concerns about the accuracy of the official reports.

The downpour left various parts of Kolkata, including crucial arterial roads and residential areas, submerged under several feet of water. Residents faced immense difficulties navigating the inundated streets, with daily life grinding to a halt.

Beyond the immediate inconvenience, the tragic deaths served as a stark reminder of the city's vulnerability to heavy rainfall and the critical need for robust infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms.

This political slugfest underscores the deep-seated rivalry between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal.

While citizens struggle with the aftermath of natural events, political parties often find themselves embroiled in a blame game, diverting focus from substantive solutions to partisan point-scoring. As Kolkata recovers from the deadly deluge, the demand for transparency, effective governance, and genuine concern for public safety remains paramount, rising above the din of political accusations.