Cyclone Jawad: Heavy rain lashes Kolkata, southern parts of West Bengal
Kolkata: Rain lashed Kolkata and other southern parts of West Bengal on Sunday with cyclonic storm Jawad laying centred 180 km from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The West Bengal Government has stopped ferry services on Hooghly River and urged tourists not to visit seaside resorts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that Cyclone Jawad would move north-northeastwards towards the West Bengal coast before weakening into a deep depression during the day.
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"With the system likely to move north-northeastwards along the Odisha coast towards West Bengal and develop into a well-marked low-pressure area, light to moderate rainfall has begun in Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts," an official said.
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The West Bengal Government has evacuated around 17,900 people from coastal areas of South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.[/caption]
Heavy rain will occur in some isolated parts of south Bengal, including coastal areas of South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur districts, and parts of Purba Bardhaman.
The state administration asked tourists not to visit seaside resorts such as Digha, Mandarmani, Bakkhali, Frazerganj, and other coastal areas on the weekend.
Regular ferry services on Hooghly connecting North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts have been suspended.
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Regular ferry services on Hooghly connecting North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts have been suspended.[/caption]
The West Bengal Government has evacuated around 17,900 people from coastal areas of South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur and opened 48 relief centres in the two districts, as per information. .
18 NDRF teams deployed
As many as 18 NDRF teams have been deployed in West Bengal as the sea at Digha has turned rough due to cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal.
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It is a matter of relief that 'Jawad' will weaken into a deep depression when it reaches Puri beach on December 5.[/caption]