A heart-wrenching tragedy struck the Devinagar area of Birati in Kolkata’s adjoining North 24 Parganas as a five-month-old baby girl, Rishika Ghorai, lost her life after falling into stagnant rainwater inside her waterlogged house.
According to police, the infant was sleeping on a bed inside her home while her mother stepped away to use the toilet. “In that brief moment, the baby is believed to have slipped from the cot and fallen into the waterlogged floor. Upon returning, the mother found Rishika lying lifeless in the water,” said a police officer.
The baby was first rushed to North Dumdum Municipal Hospital and later referred to a hospital in Phulbagan. However, doctors declared her brought dead.
The incident sparked outrage among local residents, who blame the long-standing drainage issues and administrative apathy for the tragic loss. The child’s father, Papan Ghorai, a civic policeman posted at Nimta police station, was not home at the time. Neighbours, devastated by the incident, expressed anger and sorrow. When local TMC Congress councilor visited the grieving family, he was met with public fury. “What will happen now? Everything is over,” cried one heartbroken neighbour.
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The area has been heavily waterlogged due to continuous rainfall over the past few days. In several parts of the area, knee-deep water has flooded homes. The house where the incident took place reportedly lies below road level, making it especially vulnerable to flooding.
Residents allege that poor drainage infrastructure and neglect of a nearby canal, which hasn’t seen dredging in years, have led to frequent waterlogging. “This is not a one-time incident,” said Ratan Saha, a local resident, adding, “Every year, with even a little rain, our homes flood. It’s not just water— it brings snakes and insects, making our lives miserable.”
Councilor Prashant Das, while expressing regret over the incident, attributed the flooding to incessant rainfall. “Even the best drainage systems take time to clear accumulated water. We can’t control nature,” he stated. He also mentioned that the house was built below road level and had previously advised the family to raise its height— a suggestion they were unable to act on, possibly due to financial constraints.
Das further added that ₹6.51 crore has already been allocated for drainage improvement in the area, with the foundation stone laid. However, ongoing rains have delayed the start of construction. “We are hopeful the drainage issue will be resolved once the work is completed,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer in ankle- to knee-deep stagnant water, fearing more tragedies if immediate action is not taken.
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