Mercury may rise in next 72 hrs in city

Kolkata: The temperature in Kolkata may go up slightly in the next 72 hours, giving respite to the city-dwellers from the cold wave condition that has been prevailing for the past few days.

The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore on Wednesday predicted that the condition will improve in some of the South Bengal districts including Kolkata in three days. The lowest temperature in the city on Wednesday touched 12.6 degree Celsius. In the Western districts like Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and West Midnapore, the cold wave condition may stay for a few days more. These districts can witness a marginal fall in the temperature but the overall situation is likely to improve.

"In the next 2-3 days the temperature will remain a few degrees below normal. There may be a rise in the mercury in Kolkata and some adjoining districts. The cold wave condition will also improve," a senior official at the Met office said. The cold wave condition will continue to remain unchanged in the North Bengal districts, as predicted by the Met office.