Heavy rains and gusty winds triggered by a depression in Bay of Bengal caused major traffic disruptions in Kolkata, bringing normal life to a halt in the city and adjoining districts of West Bengal.
Officials at the Regional Meteorological Centre said the depression was likely to intensify over next 24 hours bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kolkata and adjoining districts.
“The city received 123 mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 5.30 p.m.,” Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata, G.K. Das, said.
According to the weather office, the rainfall is resulting from a deep depression which formed over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal.
Traffic congestion
There was severe traffic congestion due to water logging at several parts of the city, including Central Avenue in Central Kolkata, Taratala crossing in South-West Kolkata and Loudon Street in South Kolkata. About 20 flights from the Kolkata Airport were delayed while some others were cancelled. While six trains were cancelled in the Sealdah South section, four were cancelled in the Howrah-Bardhaman Chord line section. Trees fell in the major thoroughfares, choking the traffic in the city. Ferry services from Howrah station were suspended due to rough weather.
The Met department said the deep depression would cause rainfall in most parts of Gangetic West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rainfall in few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in the next 24 hours.
The coastal areas of West Bengal and north Odisha are likely to experience gusty winds with speeds reaching from 45 kmph to 65 kmph during the next 24 hours.
Fishermen in the coastal areas of West Bengal and north Odisha have been asked not to venture into sea in the next 24 hours.
