Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall brought a sudden change to the weather in South Bengal on Monday, providing relief from prolonged heatwaves but also causing significant damage. The severe weather has resulted in the tragic loss of six lives in multiple districts of the region, including a married couple, according to a Disaster Management Department official quoted by PTI.
The impact of the thunderstorms was particularly felt in the districts of Nadia, Purulia, and Purba Bardhaman, where infrastructure suffered severe damage. The inclement weather also disrupted essential services, with suburban train services on the Sealdah-Canning line of Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division being affected for over an hour due to plantain leaves falling on an overhead electric traction wire during the storm. Train services were disrupted from 8 pm to 9.15 pm, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) sources reported that several Kolkata-bound flights from other destinations had to be diverted due to the bad weather. Three incoming flights to Kolkata – two from Delhi and one from Bagdogra – were diverted to other airports, while a Kolkata to Ranchi flight had to return to the parking bay as it could not take off amid the thunderstorms.
The Meteorological Department has forecast continued 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, bringing down temperatures significantly. The weather office attributed the thunderstorms to a cyclonic circulation over South Jharkhand and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, leading to thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds in various districts of West Bengal.
