More rain likely over the weekend

HT,4 Nov 2016, Kolkata: A possible cyclone may hit Gangetic West Bengal or Bangladesh by November 6 or 7, weathermen have predicted.

Kolkata and large parts of South Bengal, which witnessed light to heavy rain at different places on Thursday, are likely to witness more rain over the next few days and may encounter heavy rainfall in the weekend.

“A depression has formed over central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal and lay centered at 730 km south-east of Paradip. The depression will initially move northwest during the next 24 hours and then recurve northeast-wards, towards Bengal coast during the next 48 hours. It is likely to intensify further. Light to moderate rain at many places over Gangetic West Bengal during the next 72 hours is expected,” said Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, deputy director general of meteorology, Alipore met office.

In Kolkata, heavy rain resulted in water-logging on most of the important roads in south Kolkata, causing massive traffic jams on Syed Amir Ali Avenue, AJC Bose Road, Anwar Shah Road, Elgin Road, Sarat Bose Road and Ballygunge Circular Road, among others.

The depression, met officials said, is likely to first develop into a deep depression and may further develop into a cyclone. It will be named Nada if it develops into a cyclone. However, it is unlikely the cyclone will be a powerful one.

“Whether it will hit Bengal or move towards Bangladesh can be ascertained only after a few days,” Bandyopadhyay said.

Fishermen have been advised to not to venture into sea along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast on November 4 and 5, and along and off Odisha and Bengal coast during November 4-6. Between November 4 and 6, West Bengal may witness wind at 50-60 km an hour.