Trees passed over Kolkata on Monday evening with a wind speed of over 84 kmph over the Alipore observatory of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata. Trees were uprooted and vehicular traffic was disrupted. Rail services were affected. , Photo Credit: Debashish Bhaduri
A nor’wester passed over the southern districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata, on the evening of 15 May, causing uprooting of trees and disrupting road and railway movement.
Though the storm brought relief to the people of the city and South Bengal who were braving the scorching heat, the weather phenomenon caused huge traffic jams in the city.
Several vehicles were also destroyed as uprooted trees fell on them, especially in Kolkata Maidan area. Disaster Management Group personnel were deployed to clear the roads. Train services were also disrupted in Sealdah South Suburban Division.
According to the Regional Meteorological Center in Kolkata, the storm passed over Alipore Observatory (Kolkata) “today on 15.05.2023 at 1741 hrs IST with maximum wind gust of 84 kmph and lasted for three minutes”.
In Dumdum, on the northern edge of the city, the wind gust “passed in a westward direction at 18:00, sustained for one minute at 62 km/h”.
Light to moderate rain occurred in various districts including Kolkata.
Light to moderate rain occurred in various districts including Kolkata.
Along with Kolkata, other districts affected by the nor’wester include Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba and West Medinipur, Purba and West Bardhaman, Howrah, Nadia and South and North 24 Parganas.
public meetings canceled
This weather phenomenon has also challenged the public meetings of the Trinamool Congress in Bardhaman East district of the state. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been holding rallies as part of Trinamool Naba Jwar (New Wave of Trinamool), an outreach initiative of the state’s ruling party. The rallies had to be canceled due to bad weather. Mr Banerjee’s convoy was also stuck in traffic for a while due to road blockades.