Heavy incessant rains trigger flood-like situation in Bengal

Several rivers in some West Bengal districts were flowing above the danger level creating a flood-like situation, while a number of city roads saw waterlogging following incessant rains due to a cyclonic circulation on Sunday, officials said.

The met office predicted heavy monsoon rains for 24 hours in the city and other South Bengal districts after Sunday midnight, that could worsen the situation in various parts of the state.

"The situation in East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts, Bankura and Birbhum districts and parts of Burdwan could deteriorate," officials said.

In Birbhum, Labhour block was under water. Even outgoing President Pranab Mukehrjee's ancestral village Miriti was inundated.

River Dwarka was flowing above the danger level in the district.

In West Midnapore, river Shilabati was in spate, as was Darakeshwar in Bankura, officials said.

A number of areas under Arambag and Goghat blocks In Hooghly district, were inundated, affecting thousands of people.

Kolkata also received medium to heavy rainfall through Sunday, leading to waterlogging in areas like Bhowanipore, Park Circus, Amherst Street and Chittaranjan Avenue.

In view of the deteriorating situation, control rooms have been set up at the state secretariat Nabanna, and leaves of all officers and employees of the Irrigation Department cancelled till October 31.

An upper air cyclonic circulation has been created in the North Bay of Bengal and a monsoon trap exists from Gujarat to Bay of Bengal, triggering rains in several districts, the weather office said.

"The rainfall will increase after midnight. There will be very heavy rains between 12 midnisht and 3 am on Monday. There is rainfall warning in Kolkata and other south Bengal districts over the next 24 hours. However, the intensity of the rains may be somewhat reduced after 3 pm on Monday," met officials said.

--IANS

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