Moderate to very heavy rain in next 48 hrs: MeT

MP | Kolkata: Thundershowers accompanied with lightning lashed Kolkata late on Monday afternoon. 

Alipore Meteorological office predicted moderate to very heavy rain in the next 48 hours in the city and its adjoining districts along with coastal Bengal. There may be moderate rainfall in Kolkata on Tuesday but the city and its adjoining districts are likely to receive moderate to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday. The coastal areas of the state are also likely to receive heavy to very heavy showers.

The weather office has asked people not to take shelter under trees during lightning. It may be mentioned that one Ajay Mullick, who took shelter under a tree to save himself from heavy rain on Saturday, died after being hit by lightning. A budding cricketer in South Kolkata died after lightning hit the ground during heavy showers over a month ago. He could not bear the deafening sound and died. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to install lightning catchers in parks and squares under its jurisdiction. There was torrential rain in Kolkata on late Monday afternoon, more towards the east, central and northern part of the city.

Home-bound commuters were greatly inconvenienced due to the heavy showers. The traffic movement along Chittaranjan Avenue, M G Road, and College Street was slow causing massive jams. Congestion also affected the smooth movement of vehicles along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.

In Salt Lake and Sector V, there was waterlogging in some stretches and the water receded after the rain stopped. 

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), Public Works Department and New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) are carrying out repair works on the roads that have been badly damaged due to the showers. 

Potholes have come upon several roads including EM Bypass, Diamond Harbour Road and its adjoining roads and Sector V. 

Patch repairs are being carried out as the thorough repair will only be possible after dry spells resume.