New Delhi, Just 180 km away from the Bay of Bengal, Kolkata is vulnerable to storms hitting the coast and a rise in the sea level. Kolkata has been enlisted as 20 endangered world cities due to the effect of climate change.
An old age drainage system, which just covers 50 percent of the historical city could amplify the sudden rain flooding and a sea level rise as a long term affect. Kolkata is situated near Sunderbans, the world's largest delta, and it has the third-biggest gross domestic product among Indian cities. The city is susceptible to flooding every year during the June-September rainy season. The 140-year-old drainage system in the former capital of British India is amongst the oldest in the country and was built enough to only cover half the city, as of now.
A business news website points out that civic infrastructure in the city is not geared enough to counter a devastating natural calamity. There, a natural calamity might be a storm like Aila, which had a major impact on Kolkata in 2007. Four other storms were also experienced in Kolkata during the year and researchers believe that there is nothing to suggest that such storms would not take place again.
Aila had hit Kolkata at a moderate 80 kmph but led to widespread blackouts for four days, uprooted 5,000-plus trees and killed 21 people. A similar storm could hit vital installations like power and water supply stations and areas close to the Ganga could be the worst affected.
