Heavy rains lash city, suburbs

Kolkata, Oct 18 (UNI) Torrents lashed the city and its suburbs today following a trough of well marked low pressure along the eastern coast of India, according to the Met department.

The met officials said the trough of low pressure extended from South West Bay to North East Bay of Bengal across the Central Bay of Bengal has been spotted.

Under its influence there would be heavy rains in the coastal areas stretching from Sri Lanka to North Eastern region of the country, they said.

The heavy downpour caused severe waterlogging in the city forcing people to wade through knee-deep to waist-deep deep water.

Asked upon the occurence of such low pressure, Met warden K Sitaram said the wind over the sea was still warm and moist and the mixing of the north westerly cold and dry wind had developed an instability in the atmosphere resulting in thunder clouds.

''The thunder clouds cause severe thunder and lightning along with hailstorms at times,'' he explained.

Mr Sitaram said there were some unofficial reports of hailstorms in the Lake town area of the city.

He also said Nadia district would experience more rains in the next 24 hours.

This situation would remain for two more days in the city and the Met department has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea during the next 48 hours.

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