Lightning kills 4 persons in Malda
Malda/Darjeeling: Four persons were killed in different incidents of lightning strike in Bengal's Malda district on Wednesday, a senior police officer said.
Superintendent of Police, Alok Rajoria said three persons were killed in the lightning strike during heavy rain in Gajole block and one in Manikchawk block of the district.
Heavy rain accompanied by lightning hit Malda district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, incessant rainfall in Bhutan and North Bengal has thrown life out of gear.
Large stretches have been inundated in North Bengal with road communication disrupted. Water levels are dangerously on the rise in the rivers flowing down from Bhutan.
A weather warning has been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department for North Bengal from June 26 to June 28. While there is a red warning (greater than 20 cm of rain forecasted) for June 26 and June 27, there is a orange warning (7cm to 20cm of rain forecasted) for June 28. "Due to strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal and shifting of trough of low pressure along North Bengal enhanced rainfall activity is likely to continue over the district of North Bengal during June 26 to 28," stated the bulletin.
Wide-spread rainfall has been forecasted over the districts of Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, Bhutan, in a weather bulletin has warned of active monsoon to continue in the next 48 hours with heavy rains forecasted for the southern part of Bhutan.
Bhutan has been witnessing incessant rainfall in the past few days resulting in flash floods and land slides. Many important roads have been closed down owing to this. The Phuentsholing to Thimpu road is also affected.
"We are keeping tab and reviewing the situation on a daily basis. Heavy rainfall in Bhutan will definitely affect our district but we are ready. Our priority will be that we do not have any human casualty" stated Surendra Kumar Meena, District Magistrate, Alipurduar — the district sharing borders with Bhutan.
