KOLKATA: A cloud-mass triggered by the resurgent monsoon currents and a cyclonic circulation plunged Kolkata into darkness at 9am on Monday morning, precipitating a heavy spell of shower that slowed down rush-hour traffic, leaving office-goers and thousands of kids caught in the rain on a day most schools reopened after a short ‘heat-break’ last week.
While the city received 33mm between 9.15am and 10.30am, the showers lost intensity as the day progressed. But it was enough to leave thoroughfares like Chittaranjan Avenue, JL Nehru Road, EM Bypass and Shakespeare Sarani waterlogged. Till 5.30pm on Monday, Kolkata received 42.2 mm rain. The
Met office has predicted moderate rain in the city for the next 48 hours,
North Bengal is set to be battered by heavy showers over the next five days.
It seemed like evening at 9am as a 6-7km tall cloud-mass hung low over Kolkata, cutting out the sun almost completely. The mass formed at a height of 600-700m. It led to an intense spell of shower and frequent
lightning strikes. The cloud-mass was not unusually tall, said the Met office, but it was thick enough to generate lightning. A cyclonic circulation over north-west
Bay of Bengal, which had been brewing since Friday, coupled with the rejuvenated monsoon currents led to the cloud formation and the heavy rain, said the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC).
“The monsoon currents had not moved for 10 days. It started moving on Saturday and has intensified over the last 48 hours. The currents were aided by the cyclonic circulation over north-west Bay of Bengal that has been providing moisture to the currents and further strengthening them. On Monday morning, the rain was very intense but it steadily lost intensity as the day progressed. While the rain is unlikely to be very intense over the next two days, it will continue since the monsoon currents remain active,” said RMC director GK Das.
Around 90-95% of south Bengal has now been covered by the monsoon currents. North Bengal, on the other hand, continued to be lashed by heavier rains. An upper air circulation over Assam and adjoining north Bengal has intensified the monsoon currents that are now set to trigger heavy rain across Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar,
Kalimpong and Alipurduar.
Rain in Kolkata.