Kolkata Rises Again: Torrential Rains, Puja Spirit & the New “Puja Bandhu” App on Chaturthi
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Kolkata, 26 September 2025 — Today is Chaturthi, the auspicious day when the city truly enters the heart of Durga Puja. After the devastating deluge of 23 September, many feared the festival might lose its sparkle. But Kolkata has again shown its indomitable spirit — and today, a new tool from the city police, the Puja Bandhu app, is going live to help pandal-hoppers navigate the city safely and joyfully.
The Deluge That Tested Us
On 23 September, Kolkata was hit by one of the heaviest downpours in decades — a rainfall so intense it left roads submerged, pandals inundated, and many in despair. The city recorded over 250 mm of rain in 24 hours, triggering floods across neighborhoods. Several pandals under construction were damaged or disrupted; organizers scrambled to recover decor, electrical wiring, and pathways. The death toll climbed, largely due to electrocution and flooding hazards. Transport, power supply, and public systems were badly affected. Metro lines were suspended in parts, flights cancelled or delayed, and many low-lying lanes remained waterlogged for hours.
In short: the City of Joy was, for a time, submerged under nature’s fury.
But Kolkata is nothing if not resilient.
The Bounce-Back Begins
From the very next hours, the city began its recovery:
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and local agencies mobilised pumps, drainage crews, and repair teams. Roads leading to major puja pandals were given priority in repair and debris clearing. Water started receding in many pockets; power was gradually restored. Pandals opened again, often behind schedule, and crowds began to trickle back — umbrellas in hand, spirits undimmed.
By Chaturthi, the ambience is once more electric. Streets hum with the echo of dhakis, lights glow again on façades, and even a light drizzle can’t dampen the excitement.
Against so many odds, Kolkata is pushing forward. The festival must go on — and it will.
Puja Goes Digital: Enter the “Puja Bandhu” App
Amid the chaos and recovery, the Kolkata Police has rolled out a powerful companion for pandal-hoppers: the Puja Bandhu app, which goes live today, 26 September (Chaturthi).
What does the app offer?
- A digital map of major Durga Puja pandals, complete with routes, proximity, and navigation tips
- Entry and exit information, to help avoid congestion or unexpected closures
- Emergency contacts, civic facility listings (toilets, first aid, etc.), and safety alerts
- Real-time updates as traffic, crowd management, or weather conditions change
This is more than a convenience tool — it’s a symbol of Kolkata’s adaptability. When nature tested us, we responded not just with mops and sandbags, but with tech, coordination, and foresight.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma has emphasised the app’s role not just for navigation, but for safety and crowd control during Puja’s peak hours.
Today Is Chaturthi — And Hope Rises
As the clay of the idol is worshipped today, and the first beats of dhak echo across the city, it’s impossible not to feel the resilience and renewal in every footstep and every lamp.
Yes, we bore the brunt of an unexpected storm. Yes, many had sleepless nights of worry and chaos. But today, we rise — with renewed purpose, with shared synergy, and with an eagerness to re-embrace Kolkata’s grandest cultural moment.
If you’re stepping out for puja today:
- Download Puja Bandhu and use it to plan your pandal route.
- Keep an umbrella or raincoat handy — the IMD still forecasts intermittent showers.
- Follow police guidance, stay safe — and let the festival spirit sweep you up again.
For the readers of Kolkata Calling, let this Chaturthi be a testament: no deluge, no downpour, no disaster can wash out the spirit of Kolkata. Onward, to five days of light, song, color — and communion with the Mother Goddess.
Dugga Elo!
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