Written by Anisha Ghosh

Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds is likely in several districts of West Bengal for the next two days, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A yellow alert has been issued by the department for Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Purulia and Bankura districts in the south, which may receive “heavy to very heavy” rain, it is learnt.

In the last 24 hours, the highest rainfall was recorded at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas at 120 mm, followed by Amta in Howrah (100 mm), Canning in South 24 Parganas, Contai in East Midnapore and Manteswar in Purba Bardhaman (80 mm each).

Others include Durgapur (Paschim Bardhaman) at 70 mm, Diamond Harbour (South 24 Parganas) at 70 mm, and Amtala (Murshidabad) at 70 mm. Kolkata’s Alipore station logged 40 mm of rain.

In North Bengal, light to moderate rain is likely in most districts, with heavy rainfall (70–110 mm) expected in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, where a yellow alert has been issued. In the past 24 hours, Dima Tea Estate in Alipurduar recorded 80 mm of rainfall, while Newlands Tea Garden and Bhutanghat in Alipurduar received 70 mm each. Other major rainfall figures include Bhatkawa Tea Estate in Jalpaiguri and Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar with 60 mm. The IMD has warned of possible waterlogging, reduced visibility, traffic congestion and lightning strikes. In hilly stretches of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the danger of landslides remains a key concern.

The IMD on Tuesday reported the formation of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which developed early in the morning under the influence of a cyclonic circulation extending from the northeast Bay and adjoining Myanmar coast. The system is expected to intensify in the next 24 hours and move west-northwestwards across Odisha by the next day.

“Squally weather with wind speeds of 35–45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, over the North Bay of Bengal and along/off the West Bengal-Odisha coast on September 2 and 3. Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough, and fishermen are advised not to venture into these areas,” the IMD said in its special bulletin.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)