Overview

• A record overnight downpour left large parts of Kolkata waterlogged and caused multiple electrocution deaths, with reports placing the toll between eight and ten.
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held CESC responsible for the fatalities and also criticised the Damodar Valley Corporation over unilateral water releases and inadequate dredging.
• Banerjee urged CESC to pay Rs 5 lakh to each bereaved family and pledged a government job for one eligible member from every victim’s household.
• CESC said its probe of eight cases found five linked to internal home or factory wiring, two to street light poles not maintained by CESC, and one to a traffic-signal kiosk.
• CESC reported proactive power shutoffs in inundated areas and said 50–60% of operations had been restored, as the state closed schools for two days and advised remote work.