Torrential rains over the past 28 hours have battered Burdwan city in West Bengal, submerging several neighbourhoods, inundating homes, and forcing authorities to shut down the city’s zoo after floodwaters swept into animal enclosures.
According to the state weather department, Burdwan recorded more than 200 millimetres of rainfall in just over a day – one of the heaviest spells in recent years. The downpour left many wards waterlogged, with streets under knee-deep water and drains overflowing.
One of the worst-affected sites is the Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary and zoo, where water from Burdwan University’s nearby canal spilled into the grounds late Friday night. By Saturday morning, large portions of the zoo were underwater, prompting officials to close its gates to visitors.
“Protecting the animals is our first priority,” said Sanchita Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer of Burdwan. “We are pumping out water with ten pumps and taking measures to ensure that no animals are harmed.”
Zoo authorities said that while no animals have been injured, some species remain vulnerable if exposed to stagnant water for long periods. Deer and leopards are considered most at risk. Temporary arrangements have been made to relocate them to higher, drier ground within their enclosures. Bears, hyenas and other animals have also been confined to secure areas to prevent them from straying into waterlogged spaces.
To shield birds, keepers have covered cages with tarpaulin sheets and installed fans to reduce humidity. Two ponds inside the zoo are also being drained to reduce the water level.
Forest department staff have been working round the clock since Friday night to safeguard the animals, Sharma said. “Most species can tolerate these conditions for a short while, but we are moving quickly to restore normalcy.”
The flooding has also disrupted civic life beyond the sanctuary. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to address a public rally at Burdwan Municipal High School ground. But that venue, too, has been left waterlogged, forcing local administration to begin urgent repair and drainage work.
Residents say the flooding has been severe this time, worsened by overflowing canals and blocked drains. “In my neighbourhood, water has entered several houses for the first time in years,” said Anupam Roy, a shopkeeper near Ramnabagan. “People are worried about diseases if this water doesn’t clear soon.”
Officials believe the situation may ease if rainfall intensity reduces over the next two days. Weather forecasts suggest lighter showers from Sunday, which could allow drainage operations to restore normal conditions.
Until then, Burdwan remains on alert – a city battling both the fury of monsoon rains and the challenge of protecting its animals from rising waters.
