Kolkata, 17 March (H.S.): The season’s first Kalbaisakhi storm lashed Kolkata and several districts of West Bengal on Monday evening, bringing heavy rain, hail and strong winds that disrupted normal life in many areas, officials said.

The sudden squall, accompanied by intense rainfall, swept through Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and parts of West Medinipur, with wind speeds touching 72 kmph in the state capital, according to the weather office.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Kolkata, Howrah, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore on Monday night, forecasting gusty winds reaching 70–80 kmph. An orange alert was issued for North 24 Parganas.

Soon after the storm hit, several incidents of trees falling and damage to infrastructure were reported from different places.

At Jinjira Bazar on Budge Budge Trunk Road near Kolkata, the gate of a large hoarding collapsed, forcing authorities to close one lane of the road for traffic. In several areas, uprooted trees fell on electric wires, disrupting power supply. Hail was also reported in parts of the city.

In West Medinipur district, trees were uprooted in several areas of Ghatal, blocking roads and affecting movement of vehicles. In Daspur, three persons riding a motorcycle were injured after a tree fell on them amid the storm at Haridas Asudtala on the Azuria–Sonakhali Road, police said.

Intermittent rain had been reported in several districts, including Bankura, Purulia and parts of Midnapore, since Sunday evening.

The weather office said thunderclouds entering from neighbouring Jharkhand triggered the stormy conditions across southern parts of the state.

It also forecast thunderstorms and rain in north Bengal districts, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. Scattered rainfall is also likely in the two Dinajpur districts and Malda, the IMD added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey