Kolkata: The low pressure area over the Northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal has intensified into a deep depression forcing the state governments of West Bengal and Odisha to issue heavy rainfall alerts all over the region.
The meteorological department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region in the next 48 hours.
“Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to occur in the region especially in Gangetic West Bengal on Tuesday and Wednesday,” a meteorological department official said.
“The rainfalls are a result of a depression over northeast Bay of Bengal. The system has been lying stationary for the last 24-hours but has been gaining strength and is turning into a deep depression during the next 48 hours. Once it starts moving towards inland the region is likely to see heavy rainfall,” the official added.
High alert
Due to the depression, thunderstorms are likely to occur at many places over northern Odisha. The office of Special Relief Commissioner issued an advisory to administrators in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur and asked them to keep all arrangements in place to meet eventualities arising out of flooding situations.
“The state is on high alert as the disaster management force is preparing for floods. Essentials like dry food, tents, water and medicine are being prepared to ensure immediate relief to people in case of a flooding,” an officer of the Odisha Home department said.
West Bengal is also on high alert and a special task force is monitoring the situation and is in touch with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“The state government is closely monitoring the situation, especially in the districts areas of South-24 Parganas and all the barrages are at a high level. There are reports of localised floods, but at the moment there is nothing to worry about,” said state Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee.
Adjoining states of Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness moderate rainfall due to the system, along with the southern parts of Bangladesh.
“The sudden change in weather on Sunday contrary to our forecast of heavy rainfall is misleading as the system is gaining in strength, which will lead to a cyclonic like situation,” an official of the state department said.
