Low-pressure system moves towards Jharkhand, western districts of Bengal to get heavy rain

A depression over Gangetic West Bengal moved towards Jharkhand on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), kindling hopes of better weather in Kolkata and adjoining areas where incessant rains paralysed normal life a day ago.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the depression moving towards Jharkhand will bring heavy rains in the western districts of Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur till Wednesday morning.

It predicted thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty winds, at one or two places in all south Bengal districts.

Heavy rain in Kolkata and adjoining Salt Lake on Monday (August 17, 2026) caused waterlogging on several thoroughfares, leading to traffic snarls.

Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district received 157 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), the highest in the State, according to IMD data. Kolkata received 59.8 mm of rain and Salt Lake 75.7 mm during the same period.

Suri received 114 mm of rain, Medinipur 109.6 mm, Kalaikunda 94 mm, Diamond Harbour 84 mm, Sriniketan 72 mm and Jhargram 74.4 mm.

The weather department said the sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri will receive heavy rainfall until the morning of August 21 due to an active monsoon trough and significant moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.