Incessant showers caused by a deep depression over north-central Bay of Bengal lashed almost entire Bengal through Thursday and Friday to mar Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations and threatened to damage winter crops worth crores, State Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said.
What was worse the bad weather was likely to continue till Bhatri Dwitiya and the skies were unlikely to open up before Monday morning when the educational institutions resume classes after a long festive season the weatherman said.
large parts of coastal Bengal including Digha-Mandarmani and Sunderbans were affected as huge waves lashed the shores. At Namkhana and Patharpratima charging waves breached earthen bunds to enter the villages, sources in the Irrigation Department said adding these areas were most affected when cyclone Aila hit Bengal in 2009.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered opening of a control room at State secretariat Nabanna to better-handle situations arising out of inclement weather, the Irrigation Minister said adding fishermen had been asked not to venture deep inside the sea. “At Digha and Mandarmani beaches tourists have been asked not to venture near the sea for the fear of being sucked into it by the high tide.”
Inland, rain played the spoilsport for Kali Puja and Diwali festivities while many pandals went under knee-deep water. Overnight rains and strong winds pulled down fabricated structures at many places at Barasat where Kali Puja is celebrated with great fanfare.
Many parts of Howrah, Hooghly, North Kolkata, North Dinajpur and Burdwan went under water sources said adding pumps had been deployed to drain out water. There was almost no trace of lamps on roofs and fire crackers were also burst far less in number compared to previous years.
Even as older citizens failed to recollect witnessing rains during Kali Puja and Diwali, the weather office said the inclement weather was to continue till Sunday.
Rains notwithstanding Kali Puja was duly celebrated at all the Shakti Peethas including Kalighat, Kankalitala, Tara Peeth, Dakshineshwar etc according to Tantric system. Goddess Kali was also worshipped at Belurmath the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. Kali Puja was celebrated with much fanfare at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence.