Weather god smiles on West Bengal ahead of Diwali

Kolkata, Oct 27 (IANS) With the low-pressure zone shifting to neighbouring Bangladesh, the weather in southern West Bengal districts started improving from Monday morning, giving repsite to people from rains ahead of Diwali.

Medium to heavy rainfall hit Gangetic West Bengal districts since Saturday as a depression zone had intensified in the Bay of Bengal, causing untimely downpour in large parts of the state.

But the low-pressure area moved towards Bangladesh early Monday morning, according to the regional meteorological office report.

'The low-pressure belt has shifted to Bangladesh and the weather is likely to improve in the Gangetic West Bengal districts from this evening,' an official of the Alipur Met Office told IANS.

The state government Sunday opened a control room in the state secretariat. Relief materials and dry food have been stocked for any emergency situation.

An alert has also been sounded in the coastal West Bengal districts and fishermen advised not to venture out in the sea.

Earlier, the weatherman said there was a possibility of having clear weather on Diwali as the depression zone approached Bangladesh crossing West Bengal coasts.