Heat wave looms over Bengal even as storm provides temporary relief

Kolkata: The mercury may soar up to 40 degree Celsius in some of the Western districts of the state, while a high level of discomfort may prevail in the city later this week. However, a sudden spell of rain and thunderstorm took the city by surprise on Tuesday evening, which brought down the temperature by a few notches.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore predicted that the people in the city and the adjoining districts may feel a sultry and uncomfortable weather, in the latter half of this week. People in Kolkata and its adjoining areas got a relief from discomfort caused due to the hot and humid condition, following the thundershower.

The weather office predicted that the Western districts like Bankura, Birbhum, Burdwan and West Midnapore may touch nearly 40 degree Celsius, later this week. The temperature will soar above normal in Kolkata and other adjoining districts as well.

People going out on the streets in the sun have been facing severe discomfort due to excessive heat. The situation will, however, not improve till the advent of Norwester, a weather official said.

The thunderstorm on Tuesday struck the city and various parts of North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah and other districts at around 7.30 pm, with wind blowing at a speed of 50-60 km per hour.

The shower, which might have been triggered by a high-pressure belt over the Bay of Bengal, lasted nearly an hour. While it was more intense in the northern fringes of the city, the central and southern parts received moderate rain.

The high-pressure belt provided moisture, which was sucked in by the heated land. Since the temperature has been high in Gangetic Bengal for the past few days, it had paved the way for the thunderstorm, a senior official of the Regional Meteorological Centre said.

Shear winds during the hour-long storm, led to the disruption of traffic movement in some parts of the city, due to felling of trees. The traffic movement in various parts was slow due to rain and storm. Trees fell near Fairlie Place and Bosta Potti area of Sovabazar.

A truck was completely wrecked after a tree fell on it at Sovabazar. A tree also fell near Park Circus. A lamp post fell near Bijan Setu. A shop was damaged when a tree fell on it near Peerless Hotel. Senior police officers were on roads to manage the traffic.

It may be mentioned that window panes of Nabanna were also damaged in the storm. Several floors were affected, including the Disaster Management department.

Train services on the Sealdah-Dankuni section were restored at 10.50 pm, while services on the Howrah-Bardhaman chord line section is likely to resume soon.