Strong cyclonic winds, with speeds ranging between 50kmph and 60kmph, wreaked havoc across coastal areas of South 24-Parganas district on Saturday afternoon.
The worst-hit are Namkhana, Sagar and Patharpratima, all under the Kakdwip subdivision of the district. Homes were reduced to rubble and large trees and electric poles uprooted by powerful gusts. In Namkhana’s Haripur alone, at least 30 houses — both mud and concrete were damaged.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued warnings about a deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal and nearby regions. By Saturday afternoon, the depression shifted west-southwest at a speed of 18kmph with its centre near Calcutta.
According to the Alipore weather office, the depression is expected to retain strength as it goes toward Jharkhand and north Chhattisgarh.
The weather cast a dark cloud over much of south Bengal, leading to intermittent moderate to heavy rainfall with gusty winds throughout Saturday.
An official from the Alipore Met office said: “The disturbance began as a cyclonic circulation over southeast Bangladesh on Thursday morning, later intensifying into a low-pressure system, which has brought this stormy weather right before the Pujas.”
The Met department also forecast that the adverse conditions would persist, with more heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 40-50kmph, potentially up to 60kmph, till Sunday.
South 24-Parganas has been experiencing continuous rainfall since Friday. Strong winds and heavy rain late on Friday caused several homes to collapse.
Till Saturday morning, Contai recorded the highest rainfall at 18cm, followed by Durgachak (17cm), Digha (12cm), Bagati (11cm), Sagar Island (11cm), Durgapur (10cm), and Diamond Harbour (9cm), says the IMD data.
Several low-lying areas are now inundated, with farms, orchards and betel leaf plantations submerged, leading to financial losses for farmers.
Because of turbulent seas and rising water levels, marine fishermen have been advised to stay onshore. Authorities have relocated families to safer locations. Efforts are underway to clear roads blocked by fallen trees and electric poles, especially in Namkhana.
The weather office forecasts heavy rain throughout Saturday, particularly in South 24-Parganas, with stormy winds continuing to batter the Sunderbans coastline.
According to the latest weather bulletin, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected across south Bengal, including Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24-Parganas, the twin Midnapores and twin Burdwans, on Sunday.
“We have opened control rooms in many blocks to monitor the situation. Officials of irrigation and electricity departments, along with disaster management units, are working 24/7 to restore normality,” a South 24-Parganas district official said.
