KOLKATA: Clouds that broke off from the outer band of cyclone Asani triggered heavy rain in Kolkata on Monday morning even as weatherman predicted that the cyclone is likely to start weakening from Tuesday evening as it sails north-northeastward towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast.
It will be reduced to a cyclonic storm from a severe cyclonic storm and subsequently to a cyclonic circulation as it nears the Bangladesh coast.
We may not be expecting anything on the scale of Cyclone Amphan or even Cyclone Yaas but we should be careful. Everyone should heed all government and weather office advisories and directives. There should be zero avoidable loss of life.
Kolkata, which received received 57.8 mm rain on Monday, is set to receive more showers between Tuesday and Thursday.
Coastal districts of East Midnapore, South and North 24 Parganas, too, could be lashed by moderate to heavy rain till Thursday as the system approaches the coast. Nadia and Howrah, too, may receive rain.
“Strong southeasterly winds are carrying in moisture and clouds from outer band of Asani that triggered the rain on Monday. These clouds will continue to float into south Bengal and Kolkata, triggering light to moderate rain till Thursday,” said Regional Meteorological Centre director GK Das. He added that system would be reduced to a cyclonic circulation as it heads towards Bangladesh coast and will cease to have an impact from May 13.
While several parts of south Kolkata received heavy rainfall, some north Kolkata areas received lighter rain.
Ballygunge, Topsia, Southern Avenue, Park Circus, Bhowanipore, Mominpore, Jodhpur Park, Lake Gardens, Golf Green received over 50 mm rainfall in one and half hours from 9 am. During the same period, north Kolkata areas such as Paikpara, Cossipore, Maniktala, Kankurgachhi, Bidhan Sarani, Chitpore received less rain.
The KMC drainage department used heavy duty pumps at major drainage pumping stations to drain out water from flooded streets.
Traffic movement in the morning was hit in large parts of Kolkata due to waterlogging. Parts of south and central Kolkata were hit more severely than other parts.
Cops said waterlogging slowed down traffic considerably at the MG Road-CR Avenue crossing, Hastings Crossing and the Vidyasagar Setu crossing along with the Park Circus connector.
Large parts of Salt Lake and New Town were left waterlogged.
The service road stretch at the Haldiram junction off VIP Road was waterlogged. Bidhannagar Municpal Corporation officials said they had kept all standby pumps ready.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/asani-outer-band-triggers-heavy-rainfall-in-kolkata/articleshow/91456001.cms
