Over 30 flights cancelled as heavy rains lash Kolkata
Kolkata (PTI): Heavy torrential rain in Kolkata on Tuesday severely disrupted air travel, leading to the cancellation of at least 30 flights and significant delays in several others, officials said.
The relentless downpour caused massive flooding across the city, leaving thousands of commuters stranded and severely affecting transport services.
At Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, multiple flights were grounded due to adverse weather conditions, with authorities citing incessant rains and restricted visibility as key safety concerns.
"At least 30 flights have been cancelled so far, and 31 others have been delayed," an official of Kolkata Airport said.
The aviation sector is bracing for further disruptions as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of more heavy rainfall in the coming days, attributed to a low-pressure system forming over the northeast Bay of Bengal.
The heavy rainfall, which began overnight, led to widespread waterlogging in many parts of the city. Arterial roads were submerged, leaving vehicles stranded for hours, while commuters struggled to wade through waist-deep water.
The situation was exacerbated by the suspension of Kolkata Metro services on a significant stretch of the Blue Line, with stations in flooded areas remaining closed.
In the aftermath of the downpour, local authorities reported that at least seven people had lost their lives due to electrocution, with several others injured in water-related accidents.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials said that areas in the southern and eastern parts of the city bore the brunt, with Garia Kamdahari recording 332 mm of rainfall in just a few hours, followed by Jodhpur Park at 285 mm.
Local authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, and emergency teams have been deployed to assist with flood management and rescue operations.
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Protest against demolition drive turns violent in Kolkata, 3 cops injured
Kolkata (PTI): A protest against the recent bulldozer action in Kolkata's Tiljala turned violent on Sunday as demonstrators hurled stones at police personnel in the minority-dominated Park Circus area, injuring at least three officials and damaging several vehicles.
The flare-up came days after bulldozers rolled into Tiljala as part of the West Bengal government's demolition drive against alleged illegal constructions following the factory fire that killed two persons earlier this week.
On Sunday afternoon, a large number of people gathered near Park Circus Seven Point Crossing to protest against the anti-encroachment drive and attempted to block roads, police said.
As police tried to disperse, what they described as an "unlawful assembly", a section of protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, triggering chaos in the area.
Several vehicles parked along the roadside, including those carrying central forces, were vandalised, officials said.
Heavy deployment of Kolkata Police and central forces was made in the area after the clashes. Route marches and intensified patrolling were undertaken in adjoining localities to prevent further escalation and restore normalcy.
Kolkata Police Additional Commissioner Ashesh Biswas said action has already been initiated against those involved in the violence.
"Some people tried to block the road. It was an illegal gathering. The police were trying to disperse them, and there was pelting of stones. Three of our colleagues were injured," Biswas told reporters.
"We have already arrested a few people," he said.
The officer said police followed standard operating procedures, and efforts were underway to identify all those involved in the violence.
"There was an attack on the police. We will see who is behind it and arrest everyone. Strict legal action will be taken," he added.
While the police maintained the agitation was linked to administrative action against illegal buildings, some locals claimed that grievances over alleged restrictions on the use of loudspeakers during religious prayers and curbs on offering prayers on roads had also contributed to the tensions.
The developments come close on the heels of tension in Kolkata's Rajabazar area on Friday, where a standoff broke out after a group of people allegedly attempted to offer prayers on a public road despite restrictions on blocking traffic.
According to police sources, a large contingent of personnel reached the area and asked people to vacate the road, after which the situation turned tense briefly.
Members of the local community argued that holding Friday prayers on roads had been a long-standing practice in the locality, while the administration maintained that keeping roads clear was necessary for traffic movement and maintenance of law and order.
Police, however, did not indicate any direct connection between the Rajabazar incident and Sunday's violence in Park Circus.
Authorities also did not immediately disclose the number of persons arrested in Sunday's clashes or whether any protesters sustained injuries during the confrontation.
