Incessant rainfall mars Republic Day celebration

Kolkata, Jan 26 (UNI) The end-January showers that marked this year's late winter season in Gangetic West Bengal witnessed relentless rainfall in most parts of the state.

The Republic Day celebrations were marred by heavy rainfall in parts of the city, and in most parts of Malda, Nadia, Birbhum, West and East Midnapore.

With the minimum temperature in different parts of the state ranging between 13-15 degree Celsius, the state remained under the shadow of heavy cloud. The minimum temperature in the state will dip gradually until it reaches around 11 degrees Celsius, Met office sources said.

As the day progressed, very few people were seen on the roads.

Most of them were seen wearing both woolies and raincoats to beat the chilly winter showers.

Alipore Met officials reported that the maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 17.1 degree Celcius, 11 degree below normal, while the minimum was recorded at 15.8 degree Celsius, two degree above normal.

Rainfall for the past 24 hours in the city was recorded at 31.9 mm, while in the districts, it was between 29-43 mm.

The weatherman's prediction for the next 24 hours was a generally cloudy sky with possibility of a few spells of light to moderate rain. The minimum temperature is likely to be around 15 degree Celsius.

Reports of crops being damaged had been coming in from the districts, which had been the most-affected by the continuous rainfall in the state.

Met department officials had informed that the thundershowers are likely to continue until tomorrow afternoon, when Kolkata may find clear sky with sunny weather. However, weather will deteriorate later on Tuesday evening. Sky will then turn partly cloudy again.

Wedenesday will see a mix of cloudy and clear sky and later in the evening there is a possibility of heavy showers. However, the next day will see it getting clear once again.

The maximum relative humidity in the city was recorded at around 98 per cent.

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