Rain batters W Bengal, northern states
KOLKATA: Heavy downpour and high tide battered the eastern metropolis and some districts, inundating large swathes of land on Monday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Jharkhand of releasing water without information but claimed there was no flood-like situation in her rain-hit state. Rain was reported in other northern states like Gujarat, where its capital Ahmedabad received copious rains.
“Jharkhand has released some water. They have not informed us. There is no flood-like situation in the state yet. It is okay till now. I am monitoring the situation,” Banerjee told the media here.
She said rivers were flowing below danger level but low-lying areas in districts like West Midnapore and Birbhum were water-logged.
Incessant rain since Saturday submerged key traffic corridors and connectors in Kolkata, while inundating districts in the Gangetic Bengal, officials said.
A high tide in the Hooghly River under the new moon’s effect has compounded the problem.
Heavy rain is likely to persist during the day owing to the presence of a low pressure area over Gangetic Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand and associated upper air cyclonic circulation, according to the weather office.
It said “acute thundershowers” Tuesday.
“Heavy showers may also hit isolated places. Gusty winds will accompany the rains. A generally cloudy sky would be seen,” a Met official said. spells were of rain likely or till