The timing of this devastating flood couldn’t have been worse for Kolkata, as it struck just days before Durga Puja, the city’s most important and celebrated festival. Durga Puja is not just a religious observance for Kolkata – it’s the cultural heartbeat of the city, when millions of people travel to visit elaborate pandals (temporary structures housing goddess idols) across neighborhoods, turning the entire metropolis into a vibrant celebration that draws visitors from around the world. With waterlogged streets, suspended transportation, and safety concerns forcing authorities to advise people to stay indoors, the flood posed a serious risk to what is essentially Kolkata’s equivalent of Christmas, New Year, and Carnival all rolled into one.
