Kolkata, districts lashed by rain, no respite just yet

Kolkata: The Alipore Meteorological office has sounded no respite from rain on the day of "Bhai Phonta" on Saturday. Heavy showers lashed the state including Kolkata since Thursday late night, thanks to a deep depression that had developed over Bay of Bengal intensifying to a more serious one late on Thursday night.

However, the weather office has forecast that North Bengal will receive more rainfall in comparison to the districts of South Bengal on Saturday.

The areas in the city that received the maximum rainfall includes Maniktala that recorded rain of 65 mm, Topsia 63 mm, Palmer Bazaar 61 mm, Jodhpur Park 57 mm, Dhapa 54 mm and Ballygunge 52 mm. There was waterlogging in low-lying areas of central and North Kolkata but the civic body ensured that water drained away at a fast pace by keeping open its pumping stations.

"Districts like Alipurduar, South Dinajpur, North Dinajpur, Malda in North Bengal will experience very heavy rainfall on Saturday. Nadia and Murshidabad district in North Bengal will also witness heavy rain. Showers in other parts of the state will relatively decrease from Saturday morning. However, scattered rainfall will continue till evening," a senior official of Alipore weather office said.

As per forecast, the depression that was noticed at a distance of 240 km in the south-west direction in the evening will shift towards the north and North-east on Friday night.

Warning for the fishermen against venturing into the deep sea will remain for the next 48 hours with wind blowing at a speed of 50-60 km/hour blowing along the Bengal coastline.

State Irrigation minister Rajib Banerjee on Friday was present in the control room of his department, constantly monitoring the situation. "We are on alert as the path of such depressions keep on changing. It was supposed to travel to Andhra Pradesh from Odisha coast on Thursday but it shifted and was found heading towards Bangladesh along our coastline. Sagar, Sunderbans, and East Midnapore witnessed very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Our officers are monitoring the situation round the clock. Control rooms have been opened in all the districts. They are also keeping an eye on the dams. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself is constantly monitoring the situation," Banerjee said.

The Damodar Valley Corporation released water on Friday evening with Maithon releasing 6360 cusec and Panchet 3560 cusec. However the minister assured that there was no reason to panic with all arrangements in place.

"The weather will see an improvement from Sunday morning," the MeT department official said.