Thundershowers lash Kolkata, inundate pockets

KOLKATA: The city sky remained gloomy with heavy clouds throughout Sunday. By afternoon, it started pouring in most parts of Kolkata and the adjoining areas. A special weather bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department warned of heavy rain in Kolkata and other parts of south Bengal since a low pressure system was developing over northwest Bay of Bengal.

The Met office had earlier predicted an increase in rain activity by Sunday. Though a good part of the morning escaped without significant rain, thundershowers, accompanied by lightning, started up in the afternoon. According to the Met office, there is a cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh and Bengal. Under the influence of this system, which

extends up to 3.6km above the mean sea level, a low pressure area is likely to develop over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Bengal during the next 24 hours.

“The cyclonic circulation developing over Kolkata can trigger heavy rain. But the system is likely to move towards northeast Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the intensity of rain is expected decrease from the second part of Monday. But we will continue to get a few spells of thundershower or moderate rain,” said G K Das, director (weather) at Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata.

In meteorological parlance, rainfall between 7cm and 11cm within 24 hours accounts for heavy rain. By 5.30pm on Sunday, Ailpore had recorded 4cm rain in nine hours. The afternoon downpour left many pockets in the city inundated, affecting traffic movement. The overnight rain predicted by the Met office has raised concern about more craters and potholes opening up on major thoroughfares.

But not everybody was inconvenienced by the rain. “I was driving back home from a weekend retreat in Deulti with a gang of friends. Just as we hit the National Highway, it started pouring heavily. We had fun driving in the rain,” said Sumantika Chowdhury, a PR professional.

Apart from Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly are expected to get heavy rain overnight. As the cyclonic circulation moves towards the northeast Bay of Bengal on Monday, the system could trigger heavy rain in pockets of Midnapore and the western districts.