Kolkata Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee virtually inaugurates the Durga Puja festival, in Kolkata on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
KWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of those who died of electrocution following torrential rains on Tuesday morning. She also urged the Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) to provide ₹5 lakh in compensation.“For those who tragically lost their lives due to electrocution yesterday, the State govt. will provide ₹2 lakh to their families. While money cannot replace lives, we will also ensure that employment is provided to the next of kin, even if CESC fails to do so,” the Chief Minister said while inaugurating Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata.Nine people, including eight in Kolkata, died due to electrocution on Tuesday. Ms. Banerjee had attributed the deaths to negligence on the part of CESC. Several low-lying areas remained waterlogged even as the city attempted to return to normalcy. Some Durga Puja pandals were affected, with organisers stating that only a few days remain to salvage them.“Water levels have receded significantly, although the Ganga experienced substantial flooding. Except for a few low-lying areas, most of the water has drained. Nature is beyond our control,” the Chief Minister said. Kolkata recorded about 252 mm of rainfall over six to seven hours between Monday night and Tuesday morning.Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari urged the families not to accept compensation from the State government, blaming Ms. Banerjee and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim for the deaths. He said that if families refused the State compensation, he would provide ₹2.5 lakh to the bereaved families.Meanwhile, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Member Mayor in Council (sewerage and drainage) Tarak Singh courted controversy by comparing people walking in waterlogged areas to attempting suicide. He noted that CESC provides power to approximately 50,000 street lamps across the city. BJP councillors held a press conference criticising the Chief Minister for claiming that 95% of work on street lighting would be completed, calling it a “complete lie.”BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh pointed out that less than a day had passed since the deaths, yet Ms. Banerjee had resumed inaugurating Durga Puja pandals after a one-day hiatus.Amid the political row, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged party workers to extend support and called on State and Central governments to act swiftly to restore normalcy. “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,” he said.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places in south Bengal till September 28, owing to the likely formation of a low-pressure area over the north and central Bay of Bengal on Thursday. The system is expected to intensify into a depression over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the next day and cross the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around September 27, the IMD said. Published - September 24, 2025 09:07 pm IST
