Cyclone, rain may ruin early birds’ Puja plans

KOLKATA: The run-up to Durga Puja could be marred by a prolonged rainy spell triggered by an approaching cyclone, warned the Met office on Monday.

A deep depression brewing over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a cyclone by October 10. It could hit the Andhra-Odisha coast on the morning of October 11, leading to heavy showers in Kolkata and south Bengal on October 12 and 13. While the rain could weaken after that, possibility of sporadic showers during the pujas is not being ruled out.


“Over the next 24 hours, the depression will turn into a deep depression. By October 10, it will turn into a cyclone and approach the east coast, hitting land somewhere between Odisha and Andhra. The impact on the coastal districts of Bengal and Gangetic Bengal, including Kolkata, will be substantial. We expect heavy rain in the city on October 12 and 13. Drizzles are likely on October 14 but it’s still too early to predict if the showers will continue during the Pujas,” said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director G K Das.


Kolkata could start receiving drizzles from Wednesday evening, hours before the cyclone hits land. Rain is set to intensify along the coastal districts and Kolkata during the next three days. The cyclone, which is yet to be named, was stationed 950kms south of Kolkata in the east-central Bay of Bengal, 720km south-southeast of Gopalpur and 690kms southeast of Kalingapatnam.


Wind speed along the coastal districts of Bengal and north Odisha could reach 75km/hr on October 10 evening, according to a bulletin released by IMD. Sea condition will remain rough from October 9 to 12 and fishermen have been advised to return to coast by the night of October 8.


“Rain could be heavy to very heavy on the last two days. Once the system hits land and weakens, the impact could start dwindling. Generally, once a big system moves away, the weather tends to be clear. But it remains to be seen how much moisture is left behind. Depending on that, sporadic showers could continue on October 14 and the next few days. We will have a better idea on Wednesday,” added Das.


The advancing cyclone has kept Puja revelers worried. Amid the impending gloom, the Met office also had a glimmer of hope for pandalhoppers. “There is nothing yet to suggest that the rain will continue beyond October 14. A big system like a cyclone sucks out moisture from the atmosphere, leaving the conditions dry. Only if there is residual moisture after the cyclone passes away that Kolkata could receive rain during the pujas,” added the scientist.