Very heavy rain paralyses Kolkata; three electrocuted
Kolkata reeled under torrential overnight rain on Tuesday, with at least three people dying of electrocution in waterlogged areas. The downpour, which began past midnight, inundated major roads and residential complexes, crippling traffic and public transport. Metro services were suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations due to waterlogging, while truncated services ran on other stretches. Eastern Railway suspended train movement in Sealdah’s south section and partially in north and main sections, with services from Howrah and Kolkata terminals also hit. Circular Railway was shut after tracks were flooded at Chitpur yard. Vehicles were stranded for hours in knee-to-waist-deep water at Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala and College Street, while long jams were reported on EM Bypass and AJC Bose Road. Many buses broke down and taxis stayed off the road or overcharged. Several schools declared holidays. According to the KMC, Garia Kamdahari received the highest rainfall at 332 mm, followed by Jodhpur Park (285 mm), Kalighat (280 mm), Topsia (275 mm), Ballygunge (264 mm) and Thantania (195 mm). The IMD warned of more heavy rain in south Bengal districts including Purba and Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram and Bankura, with another low-pressure system likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by September 25.
Burdwan University Standoff: VC Locks Registrar’s Chamber Amid Extension Row
In an unusual standoff at Burdwan University, Vice Chancellor Shankar Kumar Nath on Monday locked the chamber of Registrar Sujit Kumar Chowdhury, accusing him of trespassing and illegally occupying the post despite his retirement in January. The confrontation escalated after Chowdhury filed a police complaint against the vice chancellor, alleging he was unlawfully prevented from carrying out his duties. Chowdhury said the state higher education department had granted him an extension in September, allowing him to resume his role as registrar. Nath, however, disputed the claim, saying he had received no official communication about Chowdhury’s extension or reinstatement. “He (Chowdhury) entered the chamber forcefully without following any rules and his conduct is hampering the activities of the university,” the vice chancellor said. Chowdhury countered that he held documentary proof, including an email from the department, confirming his extension. He said he rejoined the post on Sept. 9 after notifying the vice chancellor in writing. Chowdhury had officially retired from the registrar’s post on Jan. 31 but requested an extension from the higher education department. He said the request was approved last month, but the vice chancellor refused to recognize his return. Nath had earlier lodged a separate police complaint against Chowdhury on Sept. 20, charging him with forcefully occupying the office. Police said both complaints are under review.
Ex-Trinamool Councillor Detained at Kolkata Airport With Firearm
Former Trinamool Congress councillor Sheikh Amirul Islam was detained at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata on Monday after Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel recovered a firearm and six rounds of cartridges from his luggage. Islam, a former councillor of Ward 14 in Pujali, was stopped during security checks when the weapon was detected in his bag. He was immediately handed over to NSCBI police station for further questioning. According to police sources, Islam claimed he possesses a valid license for the firearm. However, officers said he failed to produce the document at the time of detention. A general diary has been lodged in connection with the incident, and the case has been forwarded to court. Police have asked Islam to furnish the license within seven days. If he fails to do so, legal proceedings are likely to follow. The incident has drawn attention as Islam is a known figure in local politics, having served as a Trinamool councillor in Pujali municipality. While police said preliminary inquiry suggests the firearm may have been legally owned, carrying it into the airport without proper clearance has triggered the investigation.
Supreme Court order compels Bengal primary teachers to clear TET for job, promotion
Thousands of primary teachers in West Bengal face uncertainty after the Supreme Court ruled that clearing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory not only to continue in service but also to secure promotions. Following the directive, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education on Monday issued a circular asking district primary school councils (DPSCs) to submit detailed information on teachers within 15 days. The data sought includes the number of teachers who have yet to clear TET, their date of joining, and retirement schedules. The order affects nearly 150,000 primary school teachers in the state. Those who have not cleared TET will have to appear for the exam again. Earlier this month, a division bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih ruled that teachers with more than five years of service must qualify in TET to continue teaching. The court said that those unwilling or unable to pass may resign or opt for compulsory retirement with terminal benefits. Teachers due to retire within the next five years, however, are exempt. The ruling has triggered widespread concern among educators. “Neither the Right to Education Act nor NCTE rules mention such a condition. Yet the Supreme Court has issued this verdict,” said Swapan Mondal, general secretary of the Bengal Teachers and Employees Association. “We immediately wrote to both the Union education minister and the state education minister seeking intervention. The primary board has acted, but the secondary board remains silent. We expect quick action.” The move is likely to affect a significant portion of Bengal’s teaching community, with many fearing job insecurity even after years of service.
