Heat wave conditions in Bengal

A heat wave condition after the official advent of Monsoon in the metropolis left citizens reeling as the day temperature soared to 40.6 degree Celsius, seven notches above normal.

The Met department said that due to weak monsoon flow and prevailing strong west to northwesterly winds in lower levels, moderate heat wave condition will continue over the districts of Gangetic West Bengal including Kolkata for the next two days.

Apart from the metropolis, the other places in the southern parts of the state that recorded high day temperatures are Bankura (42.4 degree Celsius), Burdwan (41.8), Purulia (40.7) and Dum dum (40.6).

The weatherman in its forecast said that "warm and discomfort weather" will prevail and the maximum temperature tomorrow will be around 41 degree Celsius in the city.

While the maximum relative humidity in Kolkata stood at 87 per cent, the lowest was 39 per cent, the Met said.

The high temperatures led to discomfort among the denizens.

The state Education minister Partha Chatterjee said that government-run schools in the state will remain closed from June 20 to June 30 owing to the prevailing heat wave conditions.

The minister also requested private schools to consider declaring holiday for the period in view of the prevailing weather conditions and for protecting the school-goers.