kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, May 7: Commuters across the city faced a harrowing afternoon on Thursday as a fallen tree disrupted services on the Blue Line of the Kolkata Metro, while storm-induced road blockages triggered severe traffic congestion in several parts of south Kolkata.

The disruption occurred during peak daytime hours when heavy rain accompanied by strong gusty winds swept across large parts of the city. According to metro officials, a tree collapsed onto the down line between Tollygunge, officially known as Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station, and Netaji station, bringing train movement to a halt along a significant stretch of the Blue Line.

As a result, metro services between Maidan and Shahid Khudiram stations remained suspended for a prolonged period. Authorities stated that during the disruption, trains continued to operate between Dakshineswar and Tollygunge stations to minimise inconvenience. However, several passengers claimed that services were only partially operational between Dakshineswar and Maidan at that time, leading to confusion and overcrowding at multiple stations.

The sudden halt in services during one of the busiest parts of the day left hundreds of commuters stranded. Office-goers, students and daily passengers were seen waiting anxiously on platforms, while others scrambled to find alternative modes of transport. Metro personnel worked on a war footing to clear the obstruction from the tracks. After sustained efforts, normal services on the Blue Line were restored around 4 pm.

While metro authorities managed to resume operations within hours, the parallel disruption on city roads compounded the difficulties for commuters. The same spell of intense rain and strong winds led to multiple instances of trees being uprooted across south Kolkata, blocking key arterial roads and disrupting vehicular movement.

Traffic was severely affected on the stretch between Garia and Tollygunge after a tree fell and obstructed the roadway. Near Malancha Cinema Hall, buses and other vehicles were diverted to alternative routes, causing long snarls and extended travel times. Motorists reported being stuck in traffic for hours as civic teams worked to remove fallen branches and restore connectivity.

From early Thursday morning, intermittent spells of rain lashed wide areas of the city. The accompanying squally winds proved particularly damaging, uprooting trees in several neighbourhoods and creating hazardous conditions. The dual blow of partial metro suspension and road blockades meant that commuters attempting to travel from one end of the city to another endured significant delays.

For many residents, the ordeal underscored the vulnerability of urban infrastructure during sudden weather disturbances. The Blue Line, one of the busiest corridors of the Kolkata Metro network, serves as a vital north-south lifeline. Even a temporary suspension along a section can ripple across the entire commuting system, especially during working hours.

By late afternoon, as metro services gradually returned to normal and road clearance operations progressed, traffic conditions began to ease. However, the disruption left a lasting impact on thousands of passengers who struggled through a challenging afternoon marked by heavy rain, transport uncertainty and citywide congestion.

Thursday’s events once again highlighted the pressing need for rapid-response mechanisms and infrastructure resilience to tackle weather-related emergencies in a densely populated metropolis like Kolkata.