Parts of Kolkata waterlogged, extremely heavy rain alert for South Bengal

Parts of Kolkata are experiencing waterlogged conditions, as torrential rain sweeps through South Bengal. An intensified low-pressure system over the Northwest Bay of Bengal brought heavy-to-very heavy rainfall to West Bengal on Monday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued safety alerts for several districts, warning of enhanced rainfall activity through Tuesday.

Meteorologists forecasted 7-20 cm of rainfall in most South Bengal districts on Monday, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 20 cm. Coastal and southern districts, including North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, were expected to face gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and lightning activity. North Bengal areas, such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar, would see 7-11 cm of heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms and winds of 30-40 kmph.

As the depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified, a monsoon trough passed through Firozpur, Muzaffarnagar, Basti, Patna, and the center of the depression over coastal West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh. This led to continuous heavy rain across Kolkata and its surrounding areas. Several main roads, including Central Avenue, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thanthania, College Street, Amherst Street, Park Circus Connector, and Khidirpur, were submerged, causing traffic congestion.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and traffic police advised residents to avoid unnecessary outings and to use alternative routes to bypass traffic jams. The weather office warned that the Bay of Bengal's depression could further strengthen, maintaining the risk of heavy rainfall in Kolkata and South Bengal.