Kolkata waterlogged after overnight rain, traffic hit across city (Lead)
Kolkata, Sep 1 (IANS) Several parts of Kolkata were waterlogged on Tuesday morning following incessant overnight rain, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to office-goers, school and college students, and other commuters.
Slow traffic movement was reported from several parts of the city as rainwater accumulated on roads and in low-lying areas.
Rainfall was heavier in south Kolkata than in the northern parts of the city since Monday night. Several alleys and streets in south Kolkata were flooded, with waterlogging reported in Gariahat, Jadavpur and Behala. Rain was also recorded in north Kolkata areas such as Shyambazar and Sinthee.
Water-logging was reported on Gopal Mukherjee Road, Amir Ali Avenue, Loudon Street, Theatre Road, Rawdon Street and Elgin Road. Justice Chandramadhav Road, DH Road, Taratala and CGR Road also witnessed waterlogging.
The down ramp at Hastings was waterlogged, while similar conditions were reported in Kidderpore. In north Kolkata, roads between College Street and Thanthania Kalibari were also affected by water accumulation.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata said Alipore recorded 23 mm of rainfall till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Dum Dum also received significant rainfall, while Salt Lake recorded 40.6 mm during the period.
Several districts of south Bengal also witnessed heavy rain. Canning in South 24 Parganas recorded 44 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, while Digha in East Midnapore received 22.9 mm. Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas recorded 42 mm and Panagarh in West Burdwan received 50 mm of rainfall.
The Met department has warned that rainfall could intensify on Wednesday. The active low-pressure area over West Bengal and adjoining north coastal Odisha and the northwest Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestwards towards north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal. Under its influence, rain is expected to continue across Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas.
Kolkata and other districts of south Bengal are likely to receive rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph on Tuesday. A yellow warning for heavy rain has been issued for Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan and Birbhum.
Moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms is likely in other districts. Heavy rain is forecast in East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia and South 24 Parganas during the next 24 hours. Winds of 40 to 50 kmph may accompany rain in areas stretching from East Midnapore to South 24 Parganas.
Heavy rain is also likely in Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan and Birbhum on Wednesday. In north Bengal, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar may receive heavy rain over the next three days.
Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The maximum temperature on Monday was 31.06 degrees Celsius, around 0.09 degrees below normal. Relative humidity ranged between 78 and 94 per cent.
–IANS
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