Kolkata, Oct. 29 -- Heavy rain continued in coastal areas of South Bengal on Thursday as Cyclone Arnab weakened after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast. In Gangasagar, authorities have prohibited pilgrims from entering the sea amid rough conditions, with announcements over loudspeakers urging them to stay in safe places.
The remnants of the very severe cyclonic storm have weakened into a depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha.
The IMD said the system is likely to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining northwest Odisha by Thursday evening.
The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places in East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan, Birbhum and South 24 Parganas till Friday morning. Sagar Island recorded 80 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Thursday, while Digha, Midnapore, Jhargram and Amta received 5 cm each.
North Bengal is also likely to experience heavy rain, with Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong expected to receive heavy rainfall till Friday morning. Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri may witness very heavy rain on Friday.
Meanwhile, a low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area within the next 24 hours and concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas during the subsequent 24 hours.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.