West Bengal: Heavy rain forecast in 24 hours

Kolkata: North Bengal is yet to come out of the flood situation as heavy rain has been forecast in the Gangetic West Bengal in the next 24 hours. Several parts in North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Malda and Alipurduar have still remained under water leaving hundreds of people homeless. 

The flood-affected people were seen crying for relief in most places. High current in the flood have damaged bridges at many places snapping the surface transport. 

The Met department on Wednesday forecast heavy rain in Gangetic West Bengal, while parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal are likely to receive heavy precipitation till Thursday. Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in sub-Himalayan West Bengal are likely to receive heavy rain till Thursday, while the other districts in the region may experience one or two spells of rain.

Jalpaiguri received 30 mm rainfall in 24 hours till this morning, the highest recorded during the period in the region, the Met department said. People in many parts of the region, which have been reeling under floods following very heavy rains for the past one week, heaved a sign of relief with decrease in rainfall activity since yesterday.

The weatherman said that thunderstorm with gusty wind may occur at isolated places in the southern districts of the state. Meanwhile the Eastern Railway (ER) informed that six trains from Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata stations would stand cancelled on Thursday due to the flood. 

The trains are Sealdah–Agartala Kanchanjungha Express, Kolkata–Haldibari Express, Teesta Torsa Express, Howrah–New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express, Saraighat Express and Kamrup Express. Kolkata–Balurghat Tebhaga Express, which will leave Kolkata station on Thursday at 12.55 pm will be short-terminated at Malda station, cancelling its journey between Malda and Balurghat, the Eastern Railway said.