Five persons died due to thunderstorm followed by torrential downpour that hit the state on Monday morning.
Among the persons who died include two from North and South 24-Parganas each and one from Purulia. The death toll due to thunderstorm is 49 in June while the figure was 16 last month.
The citizens of Kolkata woke up to the sound of rain today(Monday) and vehicles had to put on their headlights at 9 a.m. As per the weather officials, strong monsoon currents which shrouded over Gangetic Bengal lashed the city throughout the day, signifying the return of monsoon in south Bengal. The weatherman forecast intense rainfall in Kolkata and surrounding districts in the next 48 hours. Kolkata recorded 34 mm of rainfall till Monday afternoon.
The return of monsoon brought down the soaring temperature in the city. The maximum and minimum temperature was 30.2 (-3) degree Celsius and 26.9 (0) degree Celsius, respectively.
Train services of Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway were affected. Some local trains were delayed inconveniencing commuters on the first working day of the week. Commuters and officegoers faced difficulties to reach their work places as many local trains were plying late in Howrah and Sealdah sections due to gusty wind and torrential rain. Train services were affected in Machhlandapur area in North 24 -Parganas after a tree fell on the railway track.
Flight services at NSCBI airport in Kolkata were normal and there was no report of diversion or delay of flight services due to bad weather since this morning. An airport staff suffered a minor heart attack due to thunderstorm this morning while on duty at the airport. He was sent to a doctor on duty at the airport and the staff was advised to take rest following medical test. Ferry services on the Hooghly river were suspended for half an hour as a precautionary measure.
The monsoon is in its full swing in Kolkata, said an official of the Alipore Met Department. The rain, which brought down the temperature and provided respite to the citizens also caused waterlogging in many areas of the city.
Khidderpore, Tollygunge, Hastings, Palmer Bridge, Theatre Road, Patipukur, MG Road and EM Bypass were badly inundated. The situation was worse at PC connector near Bose club where the traffic remained slow due to waterlogging till the evening.
“Waterlogging happens every year in Khidderpore,” said Rajesh Mondal whose house has been inundated.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation has opened a helpline for people to complain of waterlogging. According to senior KMC officials, the waterlogging is most likely to clear out soon. The rain has caused traffic congestion in many parts of the city. Stagnant water in EM Bypass and Park Circus has slowed the movement of vehicles, adding to the discomfort of the people.
Several school children missed their first day of school after summer vacation while the ones going had to make themselves through the water logging which reached up to their knees. As a result of an accident, train service in Katwa line was disrupted; two EMU locals and one express train were detained enroute for 30 minutes each.