• Severe rainfall prediction in hills and a caution for landslides as IMD sounds alerts across West Bengal
    Indian Express | 7 August 2025
  • Written by Parthivee Mukherji

    West Bengal is expected to continue facing the brunt of heavy rainfall amid an active monsoon phase over the next seven days predicted, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. It issued multiple alerts across the state.

    In North Bengal, the IMD has put Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar districts under orange alert for August 8, 12, and 13, due to the likelihood of severe rainfall (7-20 cm).

    The IMD has also issued landslide warnings for the hilly regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, urging residents to take shelter in safe locations and avoid landslide-prone zones.

    Other northern districts—Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur, and Malda—are under yellow alert, with forecasts of heavy rainfall (7-11 cm), gusty winds (30-40 kmph) and the possibility of lightning. The IMD has warned of waterlogging, inundation in low-lying areas, and reduced visibility.

    In South Bengal, Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and Nadia districts are under yellow alert for the next three days. Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 kmph) and lightning are expected. Temporary waterlogging and traffic disruptions may occur, the IMD has cautioned, and people are advised to avoid open fields and contact with water bodies due to lightning risks.

    In its official release, the IMD said: “The monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Ferozepur, Karnal, Moradabad, Kheri, Jalpaiguri and thence northeastwards to Arunachal Pradesh close to foothills of Himalayas. The upper air cyclonic circulation over central parts of Bangladesh persists and is now seen between 5.8 and 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting southwestward with height. A trough runs from northwest Bihar to southeast Bangladesh across northern parts of Gangetic West Bengal between 3.1 and 4.5 km above mean sea level. Under the presence of above meteorological conditions, widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall activity (is) very likely over some districts of West Bengal.”

    (Parthivee Mukherji is an intern with The Indian Express)

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