Rain lashes Kolkata

KOLKATA: The city had a drenched beginning to the week with heavy showers lashing Kolkata for several hours on Monday morning. A ‘hectic monsoon surge’ triggered by twin cyclonic circulations over north Bengal and Madhya Pradesh triggered the rain that lasted for more than four hours. It left extensive areas waterlogged across the city. The showers could lose intensity in the next 24 hours, though, predicted the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC).


“A severe cyclonic circulation over north Bengal was the principal triggering factor behind Monday’s rain. It had intensified and spread to Kolkata and other south Bengal districts. While the one from Madhya Pradesh had an impact, too, it was a far lesser one,” said GC Debnath, deputy director-general, RMC.


While the monsoon surge will lose intensity over the next 24 hours, another cyclonic circulation has started developing along the Indo-Bangladesh border in south Bengal, according to RMC. “But it may not have much of an impact on Kolkata. The border districts may receive heavy showers under its influence, though,” Debnath added.


Till July 13, the rain deficit in Kolkata was 38%. Over the last two weeks, the city had few heavy spells of showers pushing the rain deficit count up. But the count is not an exact one since Kolkata had just one observatory. “Some parts of the city have received more rain, but the deficit exists,” said Debnath.