
Heavy rain likely in north Bengal due to formation of low pressure area: IMD
PTI
Kolkata, Aug 12 (PTI) A low pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday as a result of which, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in the northern districts of West Bengal till August 15, the IMD said.
The low pressure system is likely to become more marked over the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rain are likely to occur in several south Bengal districts till August 16, it said.
The IMD said that the sub-Himalayan districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong are very likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall till August 15.
It said that the north Bengal districts are likely to receive heavy downpour owing to the collective effects of the low pressure area, an active monsoon trough in the region and strong moisture incursion. PTI AMR ACD
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Monsoon revival to drench Gujarat this festive weekend
Ahmedabad: After an extended dry period, Gujarat is expected to witness revival of monsoon activity this festive weekend with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting heavy rain in central and south Gujarat as also a few districts in Saurashtra. The IMD bulletin stated that heavy rain is very likely at isolated places Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad, and in Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. In Saurashtra, similar weather is forecast in Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, and Diu. Rainfall is predicted for three days beginning Aug 16. The weather department said the monsoon system remains active, with the main rain-bearing line stretching from Punjab through Uttarakhand to Arunachal Pradesh along the Himalayan foothills. A weather disturbance over the central Bay of Bengal is expected to develop into a low-pressure area on Aug 13 over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay. This system is likely to strengthen over the following two days, potentially bringing more rain. Meanwhile, light rainfall was recorded in 50 talukas of the state in 24 hours ending Tuesday 6am with Shinor in Vadodara getting the highest 23mm. Since June 1, Gujarat has received a total of 568.65 mm rainfall, which is 64.48% of the seasonal average. Among regions, South Gujarat recorded the highest cumulative rainfall at 1,027.20 mm (68.95%), followed by Central Gujarat with 536.17 mm. This monsoon, Devbhoomi Dwarka district has recorded the maximum rainfall of 2,079 mm, which is around 135% more than its decade average. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Guest column: Prioritise risk reduction over response in tackling floods
There has been death and destruction again this monsoon, caused by hydro-meteorological disasters of cloud bursts and flash floods, first in the north-east and now in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Innocent people, their livestock and houses, along with roads, bridges and other infrastructure were washed away. This was followed with blocked roads, power shutdowns and water supply disruption, causing further misery and hindrance to the ongoing response. The monetary losses have run into multiple crores. The main cause of this catastrophe is that stability of land has been allowed to be disturbed, and its strength to face nature's onslaught weakened. (PTI file photo) The main cause of this catastrophe is that stability of land has been allowed to be disturbed, and its strength to face nature's onslaught weakened. This becomes complicated when coupled with haphazard and unscientific development. The damage to and degradation of forests has reduced their land and water conservation power that ensures smooth and regulated natural water flow. Habitations, shops and commercial establishments have come up on the natural path of water flow and on the banks of rivulets and rivers, that too below flood plain level. Irresponsible and unscientific mining has disturbed environmental stability. Domestic solid waste and muck generated due to development, instead of being disposed of at places meant, are littered to be washed away, adding fury to moving flood waters. Floodgates of storage and run-of-the-river hydel projects are managed irresponsibly, allowing fast gushing of water to cause more damage and destruction downstream. Climate change has not been tackled nor mitigated and required adaptations are yet to be accomplished. Prioritise early warning The strategic, scientific and practical National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009, stipulates following the step-wise pre-disaster phase of prevention, preparation, early warning, mitigation and risk reduction and then if required the post-disaster phase of response, rescue, evacuation, relief and rehabilitation. A fully prepared governance system, having prioritised pre-disaster steps of adequate preparation, would drastically reduce human and property losses. Early warning dissemination of these disasters, combined with mitigation and risk reduction measures, can assist in moving towards disaster resilience. But such a system up to the last mile has not been developed except for cyclones. People consequently were taken by surprise to see deaths and destruction. The requirement is to have well-managed forests, stable catchments, arrived through effective watershed management, that makes the area stable, regulated and smooth drainage of water, assisting in preventing or minimising floods, flash floods, reducing damage from cloudbursts, and in preventing landslides. These mitigating and risk-reduction steps, along with preparatory steps of clearing drains, nullahs and rivulets of waste, would allow and regulate natural water flow. In addition, construction of houses and other infrastructure away from the highest flood level of rivers and rivulets, and where these exist below, shifting above, will mitigate unnecessary losses. Satellite-based early warning systems, with dissemination up to the last mile, on mobiles must be developed and operationalised. Till the Central Water Commission and Indian Meteorological Department develop an integrated system based on data of rainfall and flood water flow, that forewarns at least six to 12 hours in advance, we will continue to see and face such deaths and destruction. Mitigation measures Flood gates management of hydro-electric projects after heavy rains require further fine tuning. In spite of pre-disaster preparation, sometimes the situation goes out of control. In such times, an effective post-disaster response of evacuating the affected, housing them at safe places and distributing immediate relief has to be in place. National and state disaster response forces are trained to manage the situation but positioning them at vulnerable areas beforehand will give better results. Funds in crores are being doled out by state governments and assistance from the Government of India is being sought. Inferences from past post-disaster needs assessment studies, including for hydro-meteorological disasters, indicate that cost and efforts of undertaking pre-disaster actions are much less than that of cumbersome post-disaster responses. But this has not been taken seriously and followed, so also suggestions and remedies from such studies. The requirement is to henceforth be serious in accomplishing actions of the pre-disaster phase to achieve near disaster resilience, so as to prevent or at least minimise death and destruction. Sustainable development and climate-resilient models, nature-based development and solutions and tourism based on carrying capacity of nature, would further reduce and mitigate hydro-meteorological disaster risks and destruction. Such actions, along with integration and mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and mitigation measures, as discussed into developmental planning, would for sure give better results. The earliest these guidelines and operations are adopted and implemented, the better it would be in managing such disasters in future. SP Vasudeva (The writer, an Indian Forest Service officer, served as principal chief conservator of forests, Himachal Pradesh, and project director at National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)


Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Swollen Kosi floods Madhepura villages
Madhepura: Surging waters of the eastward-bound Kosi river are threatening riparian areas, flooding dozens of villages in the Alamnagar and Chausa blocks of Madhepura district. Displaced residents are seeking higher and safer ground. Monsoon floods are an annual ordeal here with communities facing them for decades as the river flows through the region between Beldaur in Khagaria district and Kursela in Katihar district. Emerging from beneath the Kosi barrage in Nepal, the river flows southwards before bending eastwards from Beldaur to Kursela where it merges with the Ganga. Heavy monsoon rain in Nepal and the sub-Himalayan region have swelled the Kosi, posing a serious threat to villages in these two flood-prone blocks. The river flows without a northern bund and discharge from the barrage has surged to 2 lakh cusecs. Floodwaters have entered Fulaut east and west panchayats, Jhandapur Basa and Morsanda village in Chausa block. "We have received such information and the administration is keeping a 24x7 tab on the situation," said Chausa BDO Brajesh Kumar Deepak. "The region will be declared a flood-hit area after receipt of a formal ground report," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Khapur, Muraut, Sukharghat, Ratwara and Pandauli villages in Alamnagar block are also affected. Knee-deep water has entered homes, forcing residents to leave with their belongings. "People have been demanding an extension of the Eastern Kosi bund up to Kursela for a long time, but local representatives turned a deaf ear," said social activist and advocate Paras Kumar. A school in Jhandapur Basa has been inundated while village roads are submerged and damaged. With grazing land under water, cattle feed is scarce. Although the local administration has deployed boats, residents are seeking more for emergency night operations. District magistrate Taranjot Singh said the administration is on alert. "The administration has already held a meeting with officials and local public representatives to extend relief to the affected people," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.