Stormy weather and rain bring respite to Bengal

Kolkata, May 03 (UNI) Rain gods may bring more respite in the next 24 hours, while a strong north-westerly wind this evening lashed the city and its neighbouring distrticts, disrupting several trains on the Eastern Railways's Sealdah division.

Alipore Meteorological Department Director Dr G C Debnath said heavy rainfall along with thundershowers are expected to occur all over the state with very heavy rainfall in parts of North Bengal, notably Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur and Malda distrticts.

As predicted by Dr Debnath, temperature had reduced considerably with a genteel breeze blowing over the entire state.

Dr Debnath forecast that temperature in the state is expected to go down with moderate to heavy rainfall late this evening.

While, light rainfall had already taken place in the city, North Bengal experienced heavier rainfall, especially in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts.

'' Kolkata is expected to receive moderate rainfall tonight, but North Bengal will experience heavier downpour with thundershowers from tonight, '' Mr Debnath said earlier today.

Met officials had predicted a maximum temperature of around 37 degree Celsius in the city in the next 24 hours.

In view of an approaching western disturbance, rain or thundershower is likely to occur during the next 24 hours in isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and also in parts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, North and South Dinajpur of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

Thunder squalls, with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph, are likely to occur at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Tripura during the next 48 hours.

West Bengal's coastal areas are expected to experience rain and thundershowers with northwesterly wind with speed being around 10 - 15 knots and visibility level of 8-10 kms that may further reduce to 4 km during rainfall.

The maximum temperature in Kolkata was recorded at 36.2 degree Celsius and the minimum was at 27.7 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal.

Traces of rainfall also occurred last night in some parts of South Kolkata.

Meanwhile, very light to light rainfall occurred at many places with moderate to rather heavy rain at isolated places in the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

Very light rain occurred at a few places in the districts of Malda and North and South Dinajpur of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

Very light to light rain occurred at a few places while moderate rain occurred at isolated places in Gangetic West Bengal.

Maximum temperature fell appreciably and were below normal at a few places in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.

UNI LL SJC DB2012