Soon, rain respite for South Bengal
Kolkata: There seems to be some respite in sight for South Bengal that may get the much-awaited relief from the scorching summer heat early next week as the Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore has predicted thundershowers for a couple of days from Tuesday onwards.
The Nor'wester is likely to hit various South Bengal districts on Tuesday bringing moderate rainfall accompanied with gusty winds. The entire South Bengal has been under intense heat spell for the past few days with the mercury touching 42 degree Celsius in the Western districts. A heat wave has also been sweeping through districts like Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, Birbhum, West Midnapore, Jhargram and East Midnapore. The poll-bound districts where elections will be held in as many as eight constituencies on Sunday may continue to burn on poll day, the MeT office warned.
"Rain and thundershowers are likely to take place in various South Bengal districts including Kolkata during the afternoon hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rains will push the mercury down by a few notches. People will have some respite from the excessive heat in the later half of the week," a senior official of the Alipore MeT office said.
The districts including West Burdwan, Birbhum, West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia were among the others to have registered highest temperature on Saturday with mercury hovering over 40-43 degree Celsius. In case of other South Bengal districts, the mercury remained between 35-37 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, two poll personnel including a presiding officer fell ill in Bankura and East Midnapore respectively on Saturday.
A polling person who went to the distribution centre at Bankura Christian College to collect the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) fell ill. He was admitted to Bankura Sammilani Hospital.
On the other hand, another presiding officer also complained of heat-related discomfort at the distribution centre in East Midnapore's Tamluk. He was taken to the Tamluk district hospital for treatment.
