Bengal on Alert as Cyclone Arnab Brews in Bay, Fishing Halted
Kolkata: With a cyclonic storm taking shape over the Bay of Bengal, the Kolkata Regional Meteorological Centre has halted fishing activity for three days. Fishermen have been directed not to venture into the sea from Tuesday to Thursday, and the order will remain valid until further notice.
The India Meteorological Department is keeping a close watch on Cyclone 'Arnab', whose path and intensity are shifting. The system is expected to approach the Andhra Pradesh coast. Although West Bengal is unlikely to feel a direct hit, weather officials say parts of the state could still face heavy rain and strong winds.
South Bengal is set to receive more rain from Wednesday, and several districts may see heavy showers between Wednesday and Friday. Since the cyclone is expected to cross the coast well away from West Bengal, the spillover effects are likely to be limited.
A senior weather department official explained that the cyclone's indirect influence could bring rain and gusty winds to many districts. Light to moderate rain is expected in Kolkata and the coastal and surrounding districts of south Bengal on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall will increase across south Bengal from Thursday.
Thursday is likely to bring a rise in rainfall to South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram, with heavy rain forecast for some areas.
North Bengal can also expect showers through the end of the week. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong and Alipurduar may receive light to moderate rain on Thursday and Friday, and a few spots in these districts could see heavy rain.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions are bracing for strong winds, with gusts between 115 and 125 km per hour. The forecast indicates that peak wind speeds could reach 140 km per hour.
Kolkata's maximum temperature on Sunday was 31.05 degrees Celsius, 0.02 degrees below the seasonal normal, while the minimum stood at 23.04 degrees Celsius, 0.04 degrees above normal. Humidity levels were high, at 89 percent in the morning and 50 percent in the evening, signalling a sultry day across the city.