FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI WORLD PERSPECTIVE Return to McCarthyism under Trump Page 7 France recognises Palestinian statehood at UN meeting Page 9 Nine dead as torrential rain paralyses Kolkata STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 23 September T o r re n t i a l r a i n s overnight paralyzed Kol k a t a on Tuesday, killing at least nine people through electrocution and leaving much of the metropolis submerged as transport services collapsed and daily life ground to a halt just days ahead of the city’s biggest festival, Durga Puja. Some of those who died were identified as Firoz Ali Khan, 50, of Beniapukur; Pranatosh Kundu, 62, of Netaji Nagar; and Mumtaz Bibi, 70, of Ekbalpur. Officials later confirmed the toll had risen to nine, with at least one occurring in the districts. Kolkata Mayor and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said canals and rivers in and around the city were full, hampering drainage efforts. “Every time water is pumped out, more flows back in,” he said. “High tide A taxi navigates through a waterlogged road after heavy rainfall in Kolkata on Tuesday. BISWAJIT GHOSHAL at 1.30 p.m. may worsen the situation. Relief is likely only late at night.” Across the metropolis, arterial roads resembled rivers. Vehicles were stranded a n d c o m m u t e r s wa d e d through waist-deep water at key intersections including Park Circus, Gariahat, Behala and College Street. Long traffic snarls were reported on EM Bypass, AJC Bose Road and Central Avenue. Smaller lanes in south and c e n t r a l Kol k a t a we re completely cut off. Buses broke down mid-route while app-based cabs stayed off the roads or charged exorbitant fares. Air traffic at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport(CCU) was severely hit on Tuesday as 55 flights, including 28 arrivals and 27 departures, were cancelled between midnight and 1 p.m., officials said. Airport data s h owe d most cancellations were attributed to “bad weather at CCU,” though a few were marked “operational.” The affected flights included services to and from Delhi, Mumbai, B e n g a l u r u , Hyd e r a b a d , Imphal, and international destinations such as Dubai and Bangkok. NSCBI Airport authorities used at least seven pumps to clear the accumulated water from the airport complex. M e t ro s e r v i c e s we re suspended between Shahid Khudiram and Maidan stations after water inundated t r a c k s, w i t h t r u n c a t e d operations running from Dakshineswar to Maidan. Eastern Railway halte d operations on the Sealdah South section due to waterlogged tracks, while skeletal services ran on the North and Main sections. Trains from Howrah and Kolkata terminals were partially affected, and Circular R a i lway s e r v i c e s we re suspended after waterlogging at Chitpur yard. Govt schools, offices closed for next two days STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 23 September In the wake of the massive flooding and disruption to life in the city following heavy rain throughout Monday night, and in view of the forecast for more rain in the coming days, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced the closure of government educational institutions for the next two days, and urged ICSE- and CBSE-affiliated private schools to stay closed for at least two days. She also urged all universities to close for two days and conduct online classes instead. Miss Banerjee also announced that state government offices would remain closed for two days. Besides, she also asked private offices to start work from home State education minister Bratya Basu later issued a notification announcing closure of all state educational institutions on 24 and 25 September due to inclement weather conditions. On the deaths of some nine people due to electrocution, Miss Banerjee put the blame squarely on the private power company CESC and said that she spoke with CESC chairman Sanjiv Goenka and asked him to give a job to one of the next of kin of those killed due to electrocution and provide compensation to them. “The state government will look after the families but I expect that the CESC to give compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the next of kin of the dead. I know that money cannot bring back their lives and the loss to the family cannot be repaired,” she said. She said because of high tide the accumulated water in the city could not be cleared fast. “Once the high tide recedes the accumulated water will be cleared. There is a possibility of high tide again tomorrow and some areas surrounding Kalighat may be affected. Natural calamity has become a global phenomena. This year the puja is held early and the city is badly hit by the rain.” She said all the senior officers are working round the clock to monitor the situation. She urged the Farakka Barrage authorities to conduct dredging operation. Nabanna has opened a control room and issued a toll free number to take distress calls. The control room numbers are: (033) 2214 3526, (033) 2253-5185 and toll-free numbers are 8697981070 and 1070. • More reports on Page 3 Navratri debut of GST 2.0 sparks record sales across autos, e-comm & electronics STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 23 September The GST 2.0 rollout ignited an unprecedented consumer frenzy on its first day, coinciding with the commencement of Navratri festivities. With simplified slabs and steep price cuts, the GST 2.0 drove record sales across sectors. Car dealerships, e-commerce platforms, and electronics stores reported historic numbers as consumers rushed to take advantage of reduced prices. The automobile industry emerged as the standout winner. Under GST 2.0, smaller sub-4 metre cars were shifted to the 18 per cent tax slab, and the compensation cess on automobiles was scrapped entirely. Maruti Suzuki logged 80,000 enquiries and delivered 30,000 cars, its strongest single-day performance in 35 years. Bookings for small cars jumped 50 per cent compared to typical festival season levels, a report suggested. Hyundai dealers billed 11,000 vehicles, marking the company’s best performance in five years. Tata Motors reported 10,000 car deliveries and 25,000 enquiries, with showrooms reporting higher walk-ins, better conversion rates, and a swelling order pipeline. The excitement was equally palpable online. Flipkart and Amazon opened their festive sale events early for loyalty members, creating a perfect storm of discounts and tax benefits. Retail analysts said the alignment of GST 2.0 with Navratri boosted early festive spending, setting the stage for a blockbuster season through Diwali. Beyond cars and electronics, the impact was felt across grocery stores, apparel retailers, and small businesses. Analysts said the rollout could have a multiplier effect on consumption, providing a much-needed boost to sectors that had seen muted demand in recent quarters. Economists predict that the strong start will buoy GDP growth for the October–December quarter, with the tax reform expected to broaden compliance while boosting disposable incomes. | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | Wednesday, 24 September 2025
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.
