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Bengal

MeT predicts no relief from scorcher in South Bengal dists

Kolkata: South Bengal districts continue to burn in the scorching summer heat with humidity level on the higher side. However, North Bengal districts have received heavy rainfall in the past few days which has lead to a flood-like situation in some areas.

There is no prediction of heavy rainfall in South Bengal in the next few days. There will be no respite from unbearable heat and humid conditions in the South Bengal districts. Some scattered rainfall, in some parts, have failed to bring the mercury down.

Monsoon made its official entry to South Bengal on June 21 bringing rainfall in various parts of the state. There was a deficit of rainfall in June and the current month may also witness the same situation, the weather experts apprehend.

Deficit rainfall has hit paddy cultivation in the districts. Various crops have also been hit due to high-level of humidity.

Scattered rainfall in South Bengal failed to provide any considerable relief to the people as the prolonged heat coupled with high humidity have been causing discomfort. The weather is sultry mainly because of two reasons — the scattered rainfall did not last and due to the increasing level of humidity.

Heat spell conditions have been prevailing in all the Western districts such as Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Birbhum and West Burdwan.

The temperature in the Western districts is likely to hover around 37-39 degrees Celsius in the next few days, while the Real Feel temperature may be slightly higher due to humidity level in the air.

"Heavy rainfall will continue in North Bengal in the next couple of days. However, there is no prediction of heavy rainfall in the city and other South Bengal districts yet. There may be scattered rainfall in some parts of South Bengal. The sultry and discomfort will stay in South Bengal in the next few days," a weather official said. Incessant rain over the past few days jeopardized normal life in North Bengal with a flood-like situation looming large in the low-lying areas and triggering landslides in the Hills.

Five districts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar — received heavy rainfall in the past few days.

People were shifted to safer locations. Hundreds of people from different villages in Moynaguri block were taken to safer places on Saturday. Due to continuous rainfall, landslides were triggered in the Dooars region of North Bengal. Many areas in Malbazar, Moynaguri and Dhupguri towns were inundated.

A man died in Jalpaiguri district after he fell into an overflowing drain, a police officer said on Sunday, as incessant rain continued to wreak havoc in the low-lying areas of North Bengal.

Bimal Sil, a man in his early 40s, reportedly slipped into the gutter while wading through a flooded street on Saturday night at Shanupara locality of the district, he said. Sources in the administration said downpour over the past five days had inundated several parts of the sub- Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar.

The Met department warned of "heavy to very heavy" rainfall in these districts till Monday. Among other areas, Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur are likely to experience heavy rain, the weatherman said. Overflowing rivers have breached banks at many places, flooding localities and displacing thousands of people, an official said.

Water level at Teesta, Sankosh, Raidak, Kaljani, Korola, Shil, Torsa and Ghish rivers have risen to alarming levels owing to rainfall, he official. Traffic movement on National Highway-10, which was disrupted over the past two days due to landslides, have, however, resumed, following clearing of debris from the throroughfare, the official said.

In the worst-affected Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, several people have taken shelter in school buildings and some were seen moving to higher ground. At Moynaguri town of Jalpaiguri district, around 200 families had to move to safer locations after rainwater entered their homes. Angry residents on Sunday blocked National Highway-27 for more than five hours, protesting lack of relief materials and shelter provisions in the area.

Jalpaiguri recorded the highest rainfall at 204 mm in 24 hours till Sunday 8 am, the Met department said.

Among the other north Bengal districts, Alipurduar recorded 150 mm rainfall, followed by Coochbehar at 110 mm, Siliguri at 105 mm, Kalimpong 60 mm and Darjeeling at 30 mm.

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