A day after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the state is likely to recieve widespread rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and issued a yellow alert for some districts in the state, rains lashed south Bengal, on Thursday under the influence of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
The system made landfall between Sagar Island and Khepupara (Bangladesh), close to Raidighi (West Bengal).
The deep depression over coastal Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh moved slowly northeastwards with a speed of 5 kmph on Thursday, the Met Department said, adding that it is very likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression in the next 12 hours and into a well-marked low pressure area during the subsequent 24 hours, it said.
The weather department said on Friday, South Bengal will continue to experience light to moderate rain/thundershowers at most places. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) accompanied by squally wind speeds upto 60 kmph is very likely over North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Murshidabad districts.
Additionally, Kolkata is likely to experience light to moderate rains and thundershower.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed district officials to prepare relief camps for low-lying areas as well as ordered for the activation of a round-the-clock disaster control room and directed district officials to prepare relief camps for low-lying areas.
“Due to bad weather conditions, Mumbai and Delhi have been suffering. Mumbai had submerged. As per information with us for the next 48 hours, we have a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall,” the CM said.
The Southwest Monsoon has set in over parts of North Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. The north Bay of Bengal will remain rough to very rough, with gusts up to 70 km/h until Friday morning.
Accodring to the weather office, “Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough over the north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh coasts during May 29-30.”
Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until May 31and cautionary signal No. 3 has also been hoisted at Kolkata and Haldia ports, and signal No. 1 at Sagar Island.
The authorities also warn of uprooted trees, crop damage, waterlogging and urban traffic disruption.
Low visibility and landslide risks persist in the hilly districts, and residents are urged to follow official advisories and avoid flooded areas.