Bengal tracking depression over Bay of Bengal

Amid a forecast of heavy rain, the West Bengal government on Wednesday said it is "closely" monitoring the development of a cyclonic depression over the Bay of Bengal.

A top government official said a video conference would be held with the district administrations during the day and a plan was being put in place to combat any disruption of essential services in Kolkata.

"We are now tracking the cyclonic depression over the Bay of Bengal. It is likely to cross Bangladesh tomorrow (Thursday). So we will hold a video conference with the officials of district administration today (Wednesday)," Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, who is heading the task force to monitor the flood situation, told IANS.

According to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast issued on Tuesday, the depression is set over northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh and Bengal.

Banerjee said the government would co-ordinate with departments in-charge of power, roads and transport and telecom, to prepare for any disruption of services in Kolkata.

Heavy and incessant rainfall over the last few days inundated large tracts in Birbhum, Murshidabad, Burdwan and South 24 Parganas districts where swelling rivers added to the misery.

However, Banerjee said the flood-like situation in the southern districts was under control.