Rain but heat to return

TT, Calcutta, June 14: A thunderstorm and rain brought relief to Calcutta this afternoon but the weather is likely to be hot and humid tomorrow despite the possibility of more showers.

The rain, combined with winds that blew at a highest speed of 56kmph, brought the temperature down by 8 degrees Celsius. Eleven trees were uprooted in Calcutta, including one that crashed into a minibus in Alipore and injured the driver.

Intense heat and the heavy moisture content in the air caused the thundershower, a Met official said. The weather, he added, was expected to be hot and humid again tomorrow as a trough of low pressure was drawing moisture towards the city from the Bay of Bengal.

IMD Calcutta director G.C. Debnath said the rain did not signal the onset of the monsoon in Calcutta, which has been delayed.

Education minister Partha Chatterjee clarified that all state-aided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools would remain closed from June 16 to 25 because of the heat. “Teachers too will not have to attend schools during this period,” he added.