Results for: South Bengal

The impending landfall of Cyclone ‘Remal’ has caused extensive disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of South Bengal. Kolkata Airport has suspended flight operations for 21 hours, while the Eastern and South Eastern Railways have cancelled several trains. The cyclone’s strong winds and heavy rainfall have also affected bus, taxi, and three-wheeler services. The landfall of the storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to coastal districts on Sunday and Monday.

Halfway through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, no single issue or thread has dominated the election campaign. Regional issues such as the demand for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling, the crisis of the tea industry in the north, and river erosion are missing from the campaign by major political parties. Social media campaigns, videos, and AI-powered content are dominating the elections in the State.

Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in South Bengal have caused significant damage, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives. Several districts, including Nadia, Purulia, and Purba Bardhaman, have been severely impacted, with infrastructure damage and disruption to essential services. Train services were affected on the Sealdah-Canning line due to fallen plantain leaves on an overhead wire, while several Kolkata-bound flights were diverted or delayed due to inclement weather. The Meteorological Department has forecast continued thunderstorms in the region until May 10.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of severe heat wave conditions in several districts of South Bengal, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. The worst-affected areas include Panagarh, Diamond Harbour, Sagar Island, Haldia, and other parts of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts. Temperatures are expected to remain high until around April 28, with potential severe heat waves in some locations. IMD defines heat wave conditions when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius and are at least 4.5 degrees above normal, while severe heat waves occur when temperatures exceed 47 degrees Celsius or are 6.4 degrees above normal. The heatwave has already prompted the West Bengal government to announce an early summer break for schools starting April 22nd, originally scheduled for May 5th.