Flood threat is looming large over parts of West Bengal and North Odisha as torrential rains are routed to drench the region during the next 48 hours.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Cyclone Komen is responsible for giving heavy to very heavy rain over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and northeastern states. Isolated places are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall.
Komen will make landfall over Bangladesh anytime now and thereafter, it will move northwestwards and enter into West Bengal in another few hours. The system will be accompanied by squally winds ranging from 50 kmph to 70 kmph.
According to Skymet, combination of torrential showers and high velocity winds has great damage potential. Moreover, the system is not moving at a fast pace which will further worsen the situation.
Sea conditions are high over North Bay of Bengal and would remain rough for next two to three days. State authorities have issued warning for fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea off and along West Bengal and North Odisha coasts during this period.
Heavy rains have been pounding several parts of West Bengal for around a week now, triggering floods over the region. This has been due to the deep depression in northeast Bay of Bengal, which remained stagnant over for at least three days.
Several thousand people have been already displaced due to floods in West Bengal. Shortage of food and basic needs has been reported in various parts of the state. Fresh spell of incessant rains will further wreak havoc.
Image credit: www.deccanchronicle.com
