Flights were diverted at Kolkata airport due to bad weather, with three incoming flights – two from Delhi and one from Bagdogra – diverted to other airports.
Heavy rainfall drenched Kolkata and several districts of southern West Bengal on Monday, which were parched under the scorching sun for days with the mercury shooting much above 40 degrees Celsius. According to a Disaster Management Department official, six people lost their lives in thunderstorms that struck south Bengal. The downpour resulted in delay of several trains and forced the Kolkata-bound flights to divert.
Moreover, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had also issued an ‘orange’ alert for moderate rain, thunderstorm with lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, and East Burdwan districts in West Bengal on Monday.
Bengal-bound trains delayed
The adverse weather conditions affected suburban train services on the Sealdah-Canning line of Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division for over an hour. An official stated that the services were disrupted from 8 pm to 9:15 pm due to plantain leaves falling on an overhead electric traction wire during the thunderstorm.
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Flights diverted at Kolkata airport
In addition to train disruptions, bad weather forced the diversion of several Kolkata-bound flights from other destinations, as reported by Airports Authority of India (AAI) sources. Three incoming flights, two from Delhi and one from Bagdogra, had to be diverted to other airports.
Moreover, a Kolkata to Ranchi flight had to return to the parking bay as it was unable to take off amidst the thunderstorms, according to airport sources.
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IMD predicts rain, thunderstorm in West Bengal till May 10
The Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms in the region until May 10. Moderate to heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds, was experienced in several districts of south Bengal from Monday afternoon, significantly lowering temperatures.
The weather office attributed the weather patterns to a cyclonic circulation over south Jharkhand and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, resulting in thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds across various districts of West Bengal.
The maximum temperature in Kolkata soared to 43 degrees Celsius on April 30, the highest recorded in 50 years, as per the weather office. However, the recent spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms has provided some respite from the intense heat.
