With long queues at major service hubs, many owners turned to smaller neighbourhood garages. (Videograb)
Kolkata witnessed heavy rains that brought the city to a standstill. The downpour also caused severe damage to vehicles across the city. Hundreds of car owners are now struggling with flood-affected cars. Many high-end and luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, were left submerged in basements and low-lying streets.
More than 1,000 vehicles parked in the underground garages of residential towers were severely damaged. On Ballygunge Circular Road, a facility manager reported, “Six feet of water filled the basement of one apartment complex, destroying dozens of cars parked there.” Pumping work to remove water is still ongoing.
Authorised service centres across Kolkata have been flooded with repair requests. Many car owners rushed to service hubs but were turned away due to overwhelming demand. “Most workshops have asked customers to leave their vehicles in garages until insurance surveyors can carry out inspections,” said one workshop official.
With long queues at major service hubs, many owners turned to smaller neighbourhood garages. Md Faiyaz, a businessman, said, “My car repairs will cost nearly ₹8,000 after it was submerged up to waist level.” For fully submerged vehicles, repair costs could run into lakhs.
Kolkata has about 50 authorised auto workshops and nearly 200 local garages. Insurance companies are preparing to handle a surge in claims. Vehicles parked in basements are more likely to be covered. Cars stranded on open roads may be classified as wilful damage, making insurance claims harder to process.
Experts advise car owners to document the flood damage with photographs before submitting insurance claims. This helps in faster processing. Vehicle owners are also urged to avoid starting cars that have been submerged, as it can cause severe engine damage.
The floods in Kolkata highlight the vulnerability of vehicles during heavy rains, especially in low-lying areas and basement parking. Car owners are now facing the financial impact of repairs and insurance claims as the city begins the recovery process.
