North Bengal grapples as rains continue

KOLKATA: The intensity of rainfall in the districts of north Bengal, which have been experiencing heavy showers over the last few days owing to an active monsoon, is likely to decrease marginally in the next two-three days, the Met department said here on Monday.
The decrease in the intensity of rainfall in the region will be due to the shifting of monsoon to southeastwards, which is now passing over Dumka and Canning, it said.
The districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar, which have been experiencing extremely heavy downpour, are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain till July 15 morning, the Met said in its forecast.
Heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts during the period, it said.
Chepan received the highest rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Monday at 150 mm, while Barobisha (13 mm), Alipurduar (12 mm), Jalpaiguri (9 mm), Gyalsing, Falakata and Coochbehar (6 mm each) received a good amount of rainfall, the Met said.
Siliguri, the largest city of the region, received 14 mm rainfall, which caused waterlogging in several places.
With rivers such as Teesta, Sankosh, Kaljani and Mansai in spate owing to very heavy downpour in the catchment areas, several hamlets in these north Bengal districts have been inundated, officials said.