Written by Parthivee Mukherji 

As the southwest monsoons continue to lash Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday put the North Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar on red alert for August 2 and 3, citing the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20cm).

A few other districts, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Coochbehar, are on orange alerts for the same days due to very heavy rainfall (7-20cm). All North Bengal districts are on yellow alerts for the next seven days due to persistent thunderstorm conditions.

The IMD has warned of significant impacts, including water logging in low-lying areas, reduced visibility, traffic congestion, and lightning risks. In the hilly districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, landslides remain a major concern.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata has stated in their special bulletin, “…The monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Sri Ganganagar, Rohtak, Shahjahanpur, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, Shantiniketan, Canning and thence southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Under the presence of above meteorological conditions and strong moisture incursion, widespread light to moderate rainfall, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall activity and extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places, is likely over North Bengal on August 2 to 4.”

The RMC also put the districts of Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Bankura, Birbhum and others on yellow alert until August 3, due to thunderstorm conditions accompanied by gusty winds with speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph. The rainfall intensity is expected to gradually decrease over the next week.

(Parthivee Mukherji is an intern)