Kolkata: Torrential rain triggered by a depression left several pockets in the city go under water on Monday.
Even as this system has already grazed past the city, Met officials expect its impact in the city to linger till Tuesday. The intensity of showers, however, will gradually reduce.
The central and eastern parts of the city got heavier shower than the southern localities. The 24-hour rain amount was measured between 50 mm to over 100 mm, depending on the locality.
The waterlogging affected traffic movement in major thoroughfares.
“The intensity of rain is gradually reducing. But we can expect some more rainfall, including an intense spell till the first half of Tuesday due to the depression,” said regional meteorological centre, Kolkata head, HR Biswas. Pockets in Manicktala, Thanthania, Belgachhia, Salt Lake and New Town remained waterlogged for a larger part of the day. RG Kar Medical College campus remained inundated for a quite some time. A low pressure had triggered intermittent rain since Sunday evening.
The system became well marked during Sunday night and intensified into a depression by Monday morning over northwest Bay of Bengal and Bengal-north Odisha coasts. The system is likely to move north-north westwards and then north westwards across Gangetic Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar during next 24 hours, according to a special IMD bulletin.
“Places in western districts like Purulia, West Burdwan and Bankura are likely to get some heavy rain spells on Tuesday,” said Biswas. While Alipore recorded 53 mm of rain, Salt Lake and New Town received 64 mm and 68.4 mm of rain respectively. The KMC pumping stations at Belgachhia and PalmarBazar logged above 100 mm, Ballygunge above 78 mm, and Thantahnia 80 mm till the evening.
Chief secretary Manoj Agarwal on Monday held a virtual meeting with the district magistrates to discuss and take stock of the heavy rain situation and flood prevention measures with focus on East and West Midnapore, Jhargram and Bankura. The state govt had previously issued some guidelines on flood prevention measures.