The West Bengal government on Tuesday intensified its preparations for the upcoming monsoon, with urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul conducting an extensive inspection of several waterlogging-prone locations across Kolkata and adjoining areas to assess the readiness of the civic infrastructure ahead of the rainy season.
Several Kerala districts are already under weather alerts as the IMD forecasts thunderstorms, gusty winds and widespread rainfall during the coming week.
The IMD had earlier forecast an early onset of the southwest monsoon around May 26, with a model error margin of ±4 days
Almost since the beginning of the year, social media platforms have been flooded with discussions around so-called “Super El Niño”, with many using the term to make alarming predictions about the Southwest Monsoon — the lifeline of India—in 2026.
Amid apprehensions of economic slowdown exacerbated by multiple factors such as crude oil price shock and currency depreciation triggered by the US-Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, there seems to be some positive news regarding the southwest monsoon—the most awaited weather phenomenon in the country every year.
After two weeks of blistering heat waves, South Bengal is anticipated to get some respite next week.
The southwest monsoon is tipped to set its foot forward in the sub-Himalayan West Bengal in the next two to three days while Kolkata and other parts of south Bengal are unlikely to come under it before 6 June, officials in the Regional Meteorological Centre informed today.
The MCD said it has been working on a war footing to meet the target of cleaning all the drains under its jurisdiction before the onset of monsoon.
With the monsoon fast approaching, the Hill community is anxious about the well-being of displaced families, who are still residing in different relief camps after being affected by a flash flood on the Teesta River on 4 October, 2023.
The Indian Metrology Department has predicted an 'above normal' monsoon for 2024.
