Hot and humid weather keeps Kolkatans gasping for respite

Kolkata, May 1 (UNI) Gangetic West Bengal reeled under extreme heat and abrupt and long periods of load-shedding today as the spate of hot and uncomfortable humid weather returned to Kolkata and the neighbouring districts.

Alipore Met office predicted that temperatures might rise in the next two days with the maximum likely to be around 37 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperature in the city was recorded between 36.2- 37.1 degrees Celsius and the minimum being around 27.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. The sky was partly cloudy at times, but that did not bring down the heat.

The weathermen also forecast partly cloudy sky till this weekend, however, with no possibility of rainfall in the next six days.

Very light to light rain occurred at a few parts of the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar of sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Weather remained mainly dry in rest of the region.

Maximum temperature fell in isolated parts of Gangetic West Bengal and changed little in remaining region.

Very light rain occurred at isolated places in the districts of Malda, (North and South) Dinajpur of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Birbhum, Murshidabad of Gangetic West Bengal.

Met officials said that the weather will be partly cloudy in the districts of Gangetic West Bengal in the next 24 hours. There will be little change in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and in the districts of Birbhum and Murshidabad.

Latest satellite imagery and synoptic observation, however, indicated that a severe cyclonic storm (NARGIS) was gathering over Westcentral Bay of Bengal.

Under its influence strong southwesterly wind with speed exceeding 45 kmph and generally rough seas are likely along and off West Bengal coast.

Distant Warning Signal No II and Sectional Signal No II and III were issued for fishermen at Hooghly port.

UNI LL ADG RL PM1846