Very heavy rain likely over sub-Himalayan districts of West Bengal till Friday: IMD

Kolkata, Jul 8 (PTI) The sub-Himalayan districts of West Bengal are bracing for very heavy rain during the next two days and heavy rain thereafter till July 13, raising the possibility of landslides in the hills and inundation of low-lying areas in the plains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that heavy to very heavy rain will occur over Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar till Friday morning, with extremely heavy downpour at one or two places on Wednesday. The Met office warned of possible landslides in Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills and inundation of low-lying areas in the plains in the region due to the heavy rain. It said that heavy rain will occur in the north Bengal districts from July 10 to 13. Thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, are likely to occur in south Bengal, with the possibility of heavy rain at one or two places over North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman on July 9 and 10, the IMD said. Cooch Behar recorded West Bengal's highest rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Wednesday at 10 cm, it said. The other places which recorded significanlty high rainfall in north Bengal are Aryaman tea estate (9 cm) in Alipurduar, Ghughumari (9 cm) in Cooch Behar and Baradighi tea estate (9 cm) in Jalpaiguri, according to IMD data. The Met said light to moderate rainfall is likely over Kolkata till Thursday morning. PTI AMR RG