Evening rain slows down peak-hour traffic, more showers likely today

KOLKATA: After two days of dry weather, Kolkata was lashed by a spell of intense shower on Thursday evening, slowing down peak-hour traffic. The Met office has forecast 'light to moderate' showers on Friday and Saturday. The rain could continue till Sunday.
Triggered by a cyclonic circulation over west-central Bay of Bengal, Thursday's spell started as a drizzle around 5.30pm and soon turned into a downpour that continued till late evening.
"A circulation has formed across west-central Bay and coastal Odisha. It is expected to move to northwest Bay of Bengal, which could prolong the showers in Kolkata and south Bengal. But a very heavy spell is unlikely," said Regional Meteorological Centre director GK Das.
Some parts of south and east Kolkata received heavy showers on Thursday. While Ballygunge received 41mm rain till 7.40pm, central Kolkata received 39mm. Alipore recorded 34mm, but Behala received a mere 14mm. Dum Dum recorded 19mm rain.
The shower took evening commuters by surprise during the rush hour. Even as traffic slowed down, there was a rush to get into buses and the Metro. Taxis remained scarce and app cabs charged a steep surge fare.
Till August 18, the rain count in Kolkata had been 103% excess for the month. This was the result of an intense low-pressure that sailed through Kolkata and south Bengal last week, triggering 198mm rain in three days. The city received 430mm rain between August 1 and 18.
"We expect a rise in the count after the showers till Sunday. There should be a healthy excess by the end of the month," said Das. Along with Kolkata, Jhargram, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Purulia and Bankura were lashed by downpours on Thursday evening.