Heavy rains predicted in WB's sub-Himalayan region .......... Incessant rain continues, 1 missing in Siliguri

PTI | Kolkata | 22 July, 2016: Heavy rains occurred at several districts of West Bengal's sub-Himalayan region due to active monsoon, while rain-deficit southern districts of the state recorded light rainfall, the Met department said here on Friday.

While Jalpaiguri recorded 49 mm rainfall, the highest in the state from yesterday till this morning, in Himalayan town of Darjeeling the precipitation was 43.3 mm. In Coochbehar, the rainfall amounted to 43 mm during the same period, the Met department said.

Owing to the cloudy condition, day temperature in Gangetic West Bengal remained low with Sriniketan recording the day's highest temperature in the state at 34.0 degrees Celsius.

The Met department has forecast heavy rains in the sub- Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar in the next couple of days. However, in rain-deficit Gangetic West Bengal, the forecast is of cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain.

SNS, Kolkata | 22 July, 2016: As heavy rainfall lashed the region, one person went missing in the Mahananda river at Baghajatin colony under Pradhannagar police station in Siliguri today. Several wards under Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) were inundated and some areas in Siliguri subdivision were water logged. Normal life was disrupted following incessant rainfall for the past 24 hours.Siliguri received 138 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

The water level started receding from afternoon. According to police, Pawadhan Das (22) had jumped into the swollen river in a bid to swim across. “He disappeared after jumping to the river. Efforts are on to trace him,” said a police officer. Sources said he had jumped in on a dare from one of his friends who promised him Rs 200 to swim across the river. Siliguri mayor Asok Bhattacharya, members of the SMC mayor-in-council and councillors visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation.

The water level of Mahananda river has crossed the danger level in the morning.The river water touched the roads. The executive engineer of Siliguri irrigation division Samar Sarkar said the water was flowing above the danger level (115.975 metre -116.20 metres) till 10 a.m. The water level receded later. “ We are concerned about the situation. Wards 1, 4, 5, 24, 31, 32 and 33 were inundated and wards 3, 10, 43, 44 and 45 are partly affected. We received some dry food from the Siliguri administration,” Mr Bhattacharya said.