Kolkata, 2 June (H.S.) -Despite the onset of the monsoon in North Bengal, residents of Kolkata and South Bengal are still grappling with intense heat, humidity, and only sporadic showers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast little immediate relief, as conditions are expected to remain largely unchanged in the coming days.

According to the IMD, Kolkata’s maximum temperature could reach up to 36 degrees Celsius on Monday. The sky is likely to remain partly cloudy, but significant rainfall is not expected. Some areas may experience isolated to scattered thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rain.

Weather officials have stated that no substantial change is anticipated in South Bengal's weather pattern over the next five days. Only minimal rainfall is expected in the first week of June, which could further intensify the discomfort caused by humidity. Moderate rainfall is forecast for some districts in the second week, with rainfall activity expected to pick up during the third week. While a slight increase in showers is likely toward the end of the month, overall rainfall for June is expected to remain below normal, with the monthly total unlikely to exceed 250 millimeters.

In contrast, the monsoon entered North Bengal nearly ten days ago and has brought intermittent rainfall to the region. Scattered showers are predicted for Monday in Malda, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur districts, while five other districts remain on alert for heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rain is likely in several northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The IMD has also issued heavy rainfall alerts for Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

In addition, parts of North and Central India — including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh — are expected to experience thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds, with gusts reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.

Meteorologists are closely monitoring developments, especially the progress of the monsoon, which will be crucial in determining how soon relief may arrive for parched South Bengal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh