Deluge, Devotion, And Didi: How Kolkata’s Floods Lay Bare Bengal’s Fragile Politics And Infrastructure

As Kolkata reels from the September 22-23 deluge, Mamata Banerjee’s politics of spectacle, freebies, and cultural exceptionalism face scrutiny while West Bengal’s economic decline deepens.

Source : ABP News

On the night of September 22-23, Kolkata witnessed a calamity of staggering proportions. In just six hours, some parts of the city received over 330 mm of rain, while most areas were inundated with more than 250 mm. For perspective, Delhi’s entire monsoon this year added up to 903 mm, barely three times what Kolkata endured in a single night. By dawn, the city was knee-deep in water. Streets became rivers, neighborhoods were cut off, and a sense of dread descended over a city already