Spectre of rain-drenched Durga Puja looms on metropolis

The metropolis and coastal districts of West Bengal are bracing for a rain-drenched Durga Puja as the MeT department forecast a severe cyclone in neighbouring Odisha by October 12.
"Though there will be no direct impact of the cyclone which is likely to cross North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by the night of October 12, definitely there will be rains," Sanjib Bandopadhayay, in-charge of the regional MeT department here, said.
As the Monsoon is still active in Gangetic West Bengal, light to moderate rains will occur on October 10 and 11, which are Shasthi and Saptami of the five-day Durga Puja celebrations.

On October 12, which is Ashtami, rains will increase in the city and coastal districts, as the very severe cyclonic storm which is likely to have a maximum sustained speed of 175 to 185 km per hour, makes landfall, Bandopadhyay said.
"On October 13, which is Nabami, isolated heavy rains are likely to occur in the city and some areas in the coastal districts of West Bengal," he said.
However, weather would remain mainly dry between October 10 to October 13 in North Bengal, the weatherman said.