Heavy rain likely to pound West Bengal as cyclone threat looms large

It is very likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, and heavy rainfall in East and West Midnapore on Oct 24

Heavy rain and wind gusts up to 100 kmph are likely to hit the coastal areas of West Bengal as a deep depression over Bay of Bengal intensifies into a possible cyclone by October 23 evening, dampening Kali Puja and Diwali festivities in large parts of the State.

The IMD said the weather system, which lay 700 km south of Sagar Island on October 23 morning and is moving in a northwestward direction, is very likely to recurve in a northeastward direction and cross the Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip around early morning on October 24.

It is very likely to bring heavy to very heavy rain in coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas, and heavy rainfall in East and West Midnapore on October 24, while Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly are likely to receive moderate rain on October 24 and 25, the Met Department said in a bulletin.

Heavy rain will occur in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia on October 25, it said.

The development comes as people gear up to celebrate Kali Puja and Diwali in a big way after two years, amid easing Covid cases and curbs.

The cyclone is expected to be named ‘Sitrang’, as suggested by Thailand.

The system is likely to bring in its wake winds reaching speeds of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph in coastal North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas on Tuesday, while speeds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph could be experienced on October 24 in these districts along with East Midnapore, the bulletin said.