Amid Heavy Rain In West Bengal, IMD Predicts More Showers In Kolkata, Adjoining Districts

According to IMD, a moderate rainfall spell is likely to occur over West Bengal's Kolkata and adjoining Howrah, Nadia, East Medinipur, and the north and south 24 Paraganas during the next 2-3 hours.

As heavy rain batters West Bengal, the India Meteorological Department has said that a moderate spell of rainfall is very likely to occur on Wednesday over Kolkata and adjoining Howrah, Nadia, East Medinipur, and the north and south 24 Paraganas during the next 2-3 hours from 7:45 am, which can lead to traffic congestion and water logging in the low-lying areas. On Tuesday, several places in the state, including the capital, Kolkata, received intermittent showers with one or two heavy downpours due to a low-pressure area in neighbouring Jharkhand.

The Met department on Tuesday forecast heavy downpours in several districts of West Bengal till October 5 under the influence of the low-pressure area formed over southwest Jharkhand and adjoining northern Chhattisgarh. It further stated that light to moderate rain will occur at most places in the state during the period. Heavy rain will occur in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, and Murshidabad districts of south Bengal during the period, the Met said.

The weather office also said that the north Bengal districts of Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Malda, and North and South Dinajpur will also receive heavy rain till October 5.

Bengal Govt Cautions 7 Districts On Possible Flood Situation

Amid the continued incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Jharkhand, the West Bengal government said on Monday that there is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state and issued directions for immediate action. Chief Secretary H. K. Dwivedi held an urgent virtual meeting with senior officials of the districts of Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly, and Howrah on Monday.

"During the meeting, the chief secretary directed all District Magistrates and SPs to immediately identify low-lying and flood-prone areas as well as start monitoring waterlogging and embankment breaches and take proper steps for their remedies," an official statement said, as quoted by PTI. "The chief secretary informed the meeting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall to continue till October 5, with heavy rainfall predicted tomorrow.

The well-marked low-pressure area is currently hovering over Jharkhand and is likely to continue there for some more time. This will continue to cause high precipitation and will result in high inflow into the dams," it further stated. According to the statement, rainfall in Jharkhand was measured at more than 50 mm in the upper catchment area on October 1.

The district administration and police authorities were also issued directions to ensure an adequate stock of relief materials, including flood-fighting materials like sandbags, for embankment protection in low-lying, vulnerable areas. "The district administrations were also asked to inform Nabanna (the state secretariat) if any area receives unusually higher rainfall, as the water release would need to take into account the precipitation in the lower reaches also," the statement said.