Cyclone Kumir threatening to mar festivities during Kali Puja, Diwali

The city is likely to weather a cyclonic thunderstorm in the next 24 hours, weather scientists at the India Metrological Department (IMD) predicted on Monday.

It is now clear that rain will play a spoilsport and mar the celebrations during Kali Puja and Diwali –something similar to what happened in Durga Puja this year. Kali Puja will be celebrated in the state on October 29. Scientists at IMD had given the forecast a few days ago. There is also a slim chance that the North Westerly wind could turn in the direction of Orissa or Bangladesh till the Monday night.

A depression that had originated on the Bay of Bengal would turn into a vigorous cyclone. The cyclone will head in the North-Eastern direction, specifically Myanmar. However, there is a strong possibility that the cyclone would turn towards Kolkata late on Monday or Tuesday.

Weathermen believe that rains would last till the end of Kali Puja and Diwali, if the cyclone bounces back to Kolkata. The cyclone has been named ‘Kumir’ and is slowly taking shape and will soon hit the Bengal sky.

It may be recalled that rain had spoiled the Durga Puja festivities on Mahanabami and Mahadashami, when celebrations were at its peak. The situation may be something similar during Kali Puja this year. A low pressure axis had been created alongside Telengana, South Chhattisgarh and West Assam. Jharkhand and Bengal had medium to heavy rainfall due to the low pressure axis, which led a deep depression on the Bengal sky and Gangetic Bengal. As a result, Kolkata and other districts in South Bengal received heavy rainfall.

Kali Puja organisers, advertisers, decorators and idol artists will have a tough time during the cyclonic monsoon. Organisers are now busy taking necessary measures to combat the rainy weather. They are concerned about electrical problems, particularly short circuiting during rains.

“We are ready with the arrangements. We issue alerts to the fishermen time to time. At this point of time, the cyclone is not likely to turn towards the Myanmar. Heavy rain is expected this week,” said a weather scientist.