Yellow alert clouds puja joy in Bengal — sun shines on Shashti, heavier rain may hit later days

Authorities, already on high alert following recent flooding, are urging residents and visitors to prepare for conditions ranging from scattered thunderstorms to heavy rainfall, particularly during the core days of the celebrations.

South Bengal districts are under yellow alert for thunderstorms and gusty winds, with a heightened risk of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in pockets of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba and Paschim Medinipur and Nadia around October 2–3. Urban centres, where pandals and crowds concentrate, could face waterlogging and traffic snarls during intense spells.

North Bengal is also on notice. Districts including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar are under yellow alert and may move to orange alert for very heavy rain around October 3. Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda can expect intermittent thunderstorms with gusty winds and localized heavy showers over the coming days.

The IMD attributes the unsettled weather to a trough extending from a marked low-pressure area over west Vidarbha to the west-central Bay of Bengal, and forecasts an upper-air cyclonic circulation to emerge over the north Andaman Sea by September 30.

The system could spawn a fresh low-pressure area over the north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal around October 1–2, increasing the likelihood of widespread light to moderate rain with isolated heavy to very heavy falls between October 2 and 4.

Authorities have urged caution particularly in low-lying and waterlogging-prone neighbourhoods, and advised people to avoid open spaces, tall trees and water bodies during thunderstorms.

Festival organisers have been asked to secure pandal structures, protect electrical installations and have contingency plans, including emergency contact numbers, ready for large crowds.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)

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