Written by Shambhavi Pandey
Rain will continue to sweep across Bengal, as the IMD has predicted widespread rainfall, occasional thunderstorms and gusty winds in several districts over the next few days.
Multiple yellow alerts have been issued for both North and South Bengal: Jhargram and Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas in South Bengal, and Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar in North Bengal, for varying days until July 5.
On Tuesday afternoon, parts of Birbhum were placed under a yellow alert for thunderstorms with light to moderate rain and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kmph. Around the same time, similar alerts were issued for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong. By late afternoon, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas too were brought under warning as the weather system remained active over the region.
In Kolkata, overcast skies and intermittent spells of rain kept the city relatively cool, with the maximum temperature settling at 30.1 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.2 degrees Celsius. Rainfall between 6:30 am on Monday and Tuesday morning was 17.8 mm, with another 12.8 mm recorded by midday. Humidity levels stayed high throughout the day, peaking at 97 percent.
Forecasts suggest light to moderate rain or thundershowers will continue in Kolkata and surrounding areas, with similar conditions prevailing in most South Bengal districts. Heavy rainfall has been predicted at isolated places in Jhargram and Purulia, while more districts including Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas are likely to experience heavy spells between July 3 and 5.
In North Bengal, districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar are set to receive continuous showers through the week, with heavy rainfall expected at one or two locations till July 5. Landslide-prone areas in the hills remain vulnerable under these conditions.
A low-pressure area, which had earlier developed over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha, has now shifted westwards over Jharkhand and nearby regions. While the system is expected to move gradually northwestwards, its effects remain active across the state.
Meanwhile, squally weather over the Bay of Bengal has prompted a marine warning. Sea winds gusting up to 55 kmph are likely till July 2, and fishermen have been strictly advised to stay ashore.
(Shambhavi Pandey is an intern with The Indian Express)