After a wet Wednesday, rain-washed Thursday ushered in August in Kolkata. On the first day of the month, India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in southern West Bengal till August 4.
On Thursday afternoon, the Met office released a notification stating: “A cyclonic circulation lies over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining south Bangladesh, extending up to 7.6km above mean sea level tilting southwards with height. A trough runs from the cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal adjoining south Bangladesh to northeast Bihar at 0.9km above mean sea level. The monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Sri Ganganagar, Rohtak, Hardoi, Varanasi, Dehri, Bankura, Canning and thence southeastwards to northeast Bay of Bengal due to which light to moderate rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy
rainfall is very likely to occur over some districts of West Bengal.”
The special bulletin has marked out August 1 with an orange warning for south Bengal. Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20cm) is likely to occur at one or two places over Hooghly, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, North and South 24-Parganas.districts.
On August 2, a yellow warning has been declared. Heavy rainfall (7-11cm) is likely to occur at one or two places over Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Purulia districts.
For north Bengal, August 1 to 5 have been placed under yellow warning, as there are high chances of thunderstorms and lightning, with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Malda, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts.
Earlier the weather office had mentioned that Kolkata had been reeling from a 50 per cent monsoon deficit that was reduced to 34 per cent with a rainy July. IMD scientist H.R. Biswas said: “Overall, south Bengal now marks a 37 per cent monsoon deficit that shall be further reduced with the expected heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next few days. The phase is going to continue and the exact percentage can be defined only after a few days.”
IMD has drawn out a few possible impacts in the next few days:
- Temporarily waterlogging in low-lying areas
- Reduction in visibility during intense spell of rain and possibility of temporary traffic congestion in urban areas
Additionally, Met office has suggested the following actions to be taken:
- Arrange for drainage of excess water from nursery bed in low-lying agricultural field
- Check traffic advisory while going out in urban areas