Kolkata, Oct. 6 -- Heavy rain lashed Kolkata for nearly two hours on Monday evening, causing temporary traffic congestion in several parts of the city. Orange alerts were issued for North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Purulia and Jhargram, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast in these areas on Tuesday.
The spell of rain came at a time when markets are witnessing increased footfall ahead of Durga Puja, with people stepping out for festive shopping. Further rain may affect shopping plans as the weather department has forecast scattered showers across south Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, with rainfall activity likely to increase on Wednesday and Thursday.
For Wednesday, a yellow alert has been issued for Purulia, Bankura, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas, where thunderstorms accompanied by rain are likely. Gusty winds may also occur in some areas.
North Bengal, too, is expected to remain under the influence of unsettled weather till Friday.
Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Malda and the two Dinajpur districts are likely to receive more rain on Wednesday and Thursday. The weather office said the rainfall is being influenced by multiple troughs extending across eastern and central India. A trough from Uttar Pradesh to Bangladesh, along with systems stretching from Bihar to Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal to central Maharashtra, is creating conditions favourable for rain in parts of the state.
The weather is likely to improve after Friday, with rainfall activity expected to decline over the weekend.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.