This spell of prolonged rainfall has already inundated several areas in south Bengal. The continuous downpour is making farmers worry about potential crop damage.

“Heavy to very heavy rain may occur in four northern districts — Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar — on Thursday. There is a chance of more than 20 cm of rainfall,” the IMD added.

The Alipore Meteorological Observatory has warned of potential rainfall-triggered landslides in the hill districts due to the heavy rainfall. The water level in Teesta, Jaldhaka, Sankosh, and Torsa rivers is expected to rise and farmers have been cautioned about damage to their lands.

The Met has issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rain (7-20 cm) in Cooch Behar in the north. A yellow warning of moderate to heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) has been issued for Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur.

Meanwhile, the low pressure over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining is gradually moving southward and is now situated over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and neighbouring regions.

According to the IMD, the influx of moisture from the Bay of Bengal has created conducive conditions for widespread rainfall in West Bengal.  “A yellow alert has been issued for all districts in south Bengal, including Kolkata, for Thursday,” said a senior IMD official.

On Thursday, Salt Lake recorded maximum rainfall in the state in the past 24 hours at 109 mm, while Kolkata received 66 mm rainfall during the same period.

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