Kolkata Electrocution Deaths Rain: Kolkata woke up to one of its darkest mornings in recent memory when a spell of torrential overnight rain left the city waterlogged and caused a string of electrocution deaths across different neighbourhoods. Within 24 hours, at least eight people died and another woman was critically injured after coming into contact with live electrical poles, meters, inverters, and other installations submerged in floodwaters.
The tragedy has not only thrown light on the fragility of Kolkata’s drainage system but has also exposed glaring lapses in electrical safety protocols during monsoon emergencies.
Kolkata Electrocution Deaths Rain: The Tragic Timeline of Deaths
Shakespeare Sarani
Around 4:30 am, Pawan Gharami, a hotel security guard, lost his life while attempting to switch off an inverter surrounded by waterlogging.
Netaji Nagar
Fruit seller Prantos Kundu (62) fell into floodwaters while cycling and clutched an electric pole, leading to a fatal shock.
Kidderpore
In Hossain Shah Road, Jitendra Singh (60) was electrocuted inside his own home when water reached electrical fittings.
South 24 Parganas
Firoz Ali Khan (59) was discovered lifeless in Mullickpur, suspected of being electrocuted in floodwaters.
Garfa
Ram Gopal Pandit (53), cycling through Garfa Main Road, collapsed after brushing against an electrified pole.
Ballygunge
In Ballygunge Place, Sandip Guhathakurta (60) was found dead on a flooded footpath, likely electrocuted by hidden live wiring.
Behala
Sunil Surya (35) was electrocuted inside a factory premises, raising concerns about industrial safety during rains.
Haridevpur
Subha Pramanick (25), a factory worker, died while attempting to restart a power meter as water seeped inside.
Mayurbhanj Road
Mumtaz Bibi (70), severely injured, was electrocuted inside her residence and remains in critical condition.
A City Brought to Its Knees
The deluge submerged arterial roads, intersections, residential compounds, and marketplaces. Overnight rainfall overwhelmed Kolkata’s century-old drainage system, leaving several neighbourhoods cut off. The India Meteorological Department confirmed that the city experienced one of the heaviest single-day September downpours in decades.
While flooding itself was inconvenient, the presence of uninsulated electrical poles and exposed wiring in submerged streets converted waterlogged neighbourhoods into death traps.
Public Infrastructure Under Scrutiny
Role of CESC
The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), which distributes electricity in Kolkata, maintained that while they are responsible for power supply, they do not maintain many streetlight poles and traffic posts where electrocutions occurred.
Role of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) urged CESC to proactively disconnect supply to poles and junction boxes during heavy waterlogging. Questions are now being raised about why such coordination mechanisms were not triggered in time.
Drainage and Pumping Systems
KMC runs multiple pumping stations to clear water, but inadequate capacity and choked storm drains meant that water stood stagnant for hours, amplifying the risks of electrocution.
The Human Side of the Tragedy
For the victims’ families, these were not just accidents—they were sudden, preventable losses.
- Daily wage earners and small traders like Kundu and Pandit were forced to step out despite the rain for their livelihood.
- Workers like Gharami and Pramanick, fulfilling routine duties, became unintended casualties of systemic neglect.
- Residents like Singh and Mumtaz Bibi were not even outdoors—they died inside their own homes, where safety should have been guaranteed.
These deaths underscore how urban disasters do not discriminate—anyone, from the working poor to the middle class, can fall victim.
Why These Deaths Keep Happening
- Aging Infrastructure – Many streetlight poles and electrical posts have exposed wiring not built to withstand submersion.
- Waterlogging Hotspots – Neighbourhoods like Behala, Kidderpore, Garfa, and Ballygunge are chronically prone to flooding.
- Lack of Safety Cut-offs – No automatic disconnection of electricity to submerged public poles.
- Poor Coordination – No single nodal authority takes responsibility during emergencies—CESC and KMC operate in silos.
- Climate Extremes – Rainfall is becoming more erratic and intense, stretching Kolkata’s outdated drainage.
Political and Government Response
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow and announced compensation for families of the deceased. She even suggested that CESC should provide jobs to families of victims, raising the bar of accountability.
Schools were ordered to remain shut as a safety measure. Meanwhile, KMC officials promised urgent inspection drives of poles and meters in waterlogging-prone zones.
But civil society groups and opposition parties have argued that mere compensation is not enough—systemic reforms must follow.
Lessons for Urban Safety
Experts and urban planners are unanimous: this tragedy must serve as a turning point.
- Electrical Safety Audits: All public installations must be surveyed before every monsoon.
- Drainage Overhaul: Decades-old stormwater lines need modernization.
- Disaster Protocols: Power cut-off mechanisms in flood-prone zones must be institutionalized.
- Public Warnings: SMS and loudspeaker alerts should warn citizens against entering flooded streets.
- Climate Adaptation: Kolkata must accept that extreme rainfall is no longer a rare event—it’s the new normal.
External Government References
For readers seeking authoritative updates and guidelines:
- India Meteorological Department (IMD) – https://mausam.imd.gov.in
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) – https://www.kmcgov.in
- CESC Limited (official power distribution in Kolkata) – https://www.cesc.co.in
- West Bengal Disaster Management & Civil Defence – https://wbdmd.gov.in
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Govt. of India – https://ndma.gov.in
Conclusion
The string of Kolkata electrocution deaths rain is a grim reminder that urban infrastructure cannot be left to reactive governance. As the city prepares for Durga Puja festivities, civic bodies must act urgently to secure streets, upgrade drainage, and ensure public electrical safety.
Kolkata’s resilience is legendary—but resilience cannot be built on loss. Eight deaths in one day should serve as a wake-up call that safety, accountability, and climate-ready planning must be the city’s top priorities.
Also read: Home | Channel 6 Network – Latest News, Breaking Updates: Politics, Business, Tech & More
