Stories
Deep Depression Batters Bengal: Kolkata Under Yellow Alert, Coastal Areas Face Storm Surge
- •A deep depression, briefly dubbed 'Cyclone Arnab' online, crossed the Andhra-Odisha coast, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to Bengal.
- •Kolkata is under a yellow alert for heavy rain and winds of 30-50 kmph on Thursday, with conditions expected to ease from Friday.
- •South Bengal districts like East and West Medinipur and Jhargram are under a more severe orange alert for extremely heavy rain, with up to 200mm possible.
- •Coastal areas including Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur, and Mandarmani are experiencing a massive storm surge, with giant waves flooding residential pockets and Marine Drive.
- •North Bengal is also under an orange alert for extremely heavy rain, though this is separate from Kolkata's immediate weather system.
Key Questions Answered
Although the severe weather system briefly went viral online as 'Cyclone Arnab', it never technically met the criteria to be classified as a cyclone. The system crossed the Andhra-Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam as a very deep depression with sustained winds of 55-65 kmph.
Kolkata is under a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunder on Thursday, September 24, with gusty winds reaching 30-50 kmph. The city will experience mostly cloudy skies and light-to-moderate rain spells before conditions begin to ease on Friday.
Coastal spots like Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur, and Mandarmani are experiencing a massive storm surge and rough seas, with giant waves breaching guard walls and flooding residential areas. Marine Drive has reported near-knee-deep waterlogging, prompting local administrations to deploy police and lifeguard teams while banning tourists from the beach.
