Kolkata is submerged due to heavy rain. Water has accumulated every corner, from bus terminals to railway tracks. The toll is grim - seven to eight people lost their lives due to electrocution. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressed concern, warning that the situation could further deteriorate with the impending high tide. On Tuesday, she issued a clarion call for vigilance to the citizen. She also announced school holidays for Tuesday. Even daily commuters were advised by the Chief Minister not to venture out today and tomorrow, considering the circumstances. Following her announcement, the School Education Department issued a notification declaring holidays on September 24 and 25 due to the disaster.
Soon after the Chief Minister's announcement, Education Minister Bratya Basu took to his X handle, declaring that all schools and higher education institutions across the state would remain closed not just on September 23 and 24, but also on the 25th. With the government-sanctioned Puja holidays commencing from the 26th, this effectively means that state educational institutions will remain closed three days ahead of the scheduled holidays.
The minister's post read, "An unprecedented disaster situation has arisen in the state. On the advice of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, it has been decided to close all schools and higher educational institutions in the state tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, i.e. on September 24 and 25, to provide relief to the students in this disaster and to protect them from accidents. During this disaster, all teachers and education workers associated with education are requested to do their daily essential work from home. Since the official Puja holiday is from September 26, the Durga Puja holiday is practically starting from tomorrow. I wish everyone a happy and prosperous Sharadiya. My deep and sincere condolences to the families of the fellow citizens who died in this disaster."
In her address to the media, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged citizens to venture out only if absolutely necessary. She assured government employees that their absence would be pardoned, extending an olive branch of understanding. In the same breath, she urged private sector entities to approach the situation with a humanitarian perspective.
Mamata stated, "I appeal to the private sector: we are facing an extraordinary calamity. Please, do not dock today's leave. They too are human beings. Are they expected to risk their lives to come to work? I urge you to consider this from a humanitarian standpoint."
The Chief Minister's ire was particularly directed at CESC following multiple fatalities due to electrocution in the waterlogged city. She didn't mince words: "I've repeatedly stressed the need to fix the electrical lines in Kolkata. I've been informed that 7-8 people have lost their lives to electrocution. This is deeply distressing. CESC must provide assistance to these families. They must offer a job to each affected family - I'm making this explicitly clear. We'll do whatever we can as well. We're suffering too; our homes are flooded. My heart goes out to the Puja pandals as well. Isn't this CESC's responsibility? It's CESC that provides electricity, not the government. It's their duty to ensure people don't suffer. They're here to do business, but won't modernize their infrastructure? They need to get on the ground immediately and start working."
