West Bengal: South Bengal an Northern Districts Sizzle as Heatwave Continues

Kolkata: Heatwave prevailed in south Bengal and many parts of the northern districts of West Bengal on Sunday as the Met department forecast it will continue, particularly in southern districts, till May 2, as PTI reported.

The day's maximum temperature was recorded at 44.3 degrees Celsius, 7.5 deg C above normal, at Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district, the department said in a bulletin.

At Panagarh in Paschim Bardhaman district, the temperature was 44.2 deg C, followed by Bankura 43.5 deg C.

In Kolkata, the maximum temperature was 41.3 deg C, which was 5.7 deg C above normal.

In the relatively cooler northern parts of the state, Balurghat and Malda recorded maximum temperatures of 41 deg C each.

In Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the mercury, however, read 22.4 deg C and 25.2 deg C, respectively, the MeT office said.

"Mainly dry westerly to northwesterly winds at lower levels continue to prevail over the region. Due to strong solar insolation, the heatwave condition is very likely to prevail over the districts during the period from April 28 to May 2," a MeT office spokesperson said.

Due to the heatwave, roads wore a deserted look on Sunday and fewer vehicles were seen in the afternoon.

The state government already announced the preponing of the summer vacation in state-run and state-aided schools.