Torrential rain lashes southern West Bengal, more downpour likely till Wednesday

Kolkata, Jul 8 (PTI) Heavy rain lashed several southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, since early Tuesday, leading to waterlogging of roads and low-lying areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over some districts of West Bengal, owing to a low-pressure along with a strong monsoon flow.

The low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal is likely to move slowly west-northwestwards across Jharkhand and north Chhattisgarh during the next two days, it said in a bulletin.

Heavy to very heavy rain till Wednesday is likely in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, Bankura and West Midnapore districts.

The north Bengal districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Kalimpong are also expected to receive heavy rain till Wednesday, it said.

Several parts of Kolkata, Salt Lake and Howrah city reported waterlogging during the day, due to incessant overnight rain.

People heading to office and other places of work faced a harrowing time reaching their destination in the morning, as the downpour continued. Public transport services were also affected, adding to the woes.

Uluberia in Howrah district received 111 mm of rainfall, the state's highest in 24 hours till 8.30 am, followed by Dum Dum, which recorded 99 mm of rainfall.

Kolkata received 81.6 mm of rainfall and adjoining Salt Lake 88.3 mm during the period, the bulletin said.

The metropolis is likely to receive light to moderate rain, with an intense spell at some places till Wednesday morning, it added. PTI AMR RBT