South Bengal heavy rain alert: Deep depression moves inland, Kolkata on watch
Synopsis
A deep depression that made landfall near Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is now pushing heavy to very heavy rainfall across more than a dozen districts in West Bengal. Kolkata, Howrah, Jalpaiguri and several other districts remain on high alert through Friday, with relief expected only from Saturday — and even then, only partially.
Key Takeaways
A deep depression crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kalingapatnam late Wednesday night and is moving west-northwestward .
As of Thursday, the system was 80 km north-northeast of Visakhapatnam and 170 km southwest of Gopalpur , Odisha.
Coastal winds reached 55–65 kmph at landfall, with gusts up to 75 kmph .
Kolkata , Howrah , South 24 Parganas , Bankura , Birbhum and several other South Bengal districts are under heavy rain warnings through Friday.
Darjeeling , Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar in North Bengal face heavy to very heavy rain , with gusty winds of 30–40 kmph .
Weather in South Bengal expected to improve from Saturday ; North Bengal improvement will be gradual, with Jalpaiguri likely to see continued heavy rain.
South Bengal, including Kolkata, braced for another day of intense weather on Thursday, 25 September 2026, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts through Friday. The trigger: a deep depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal and crossed the coast near the southwest of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh late on Wednesday night, now moving steadily inland.
Where the System Stands
As of Thursday, the deep depression was positioned approximately 80 km north-northeast of Visakhapatnam and 170 km southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha. It is tracking west-northwestward and is expected to maintain its intensity over the next 12 hours before gradually weakening over the following 24 hours. When the system made landfall, coastal winds along Andhra Pradesh were recorded at 55–65 kmph, with gusts touching 75 kmph in isolated pockets.
Districts on High Alert in South Bengal
The IMD has flagged Dum Dum and Jhargram for heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, while heavy rainfall warnings are in place for Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, and Birbhum. Thunderstorms have already been reported across North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and surrounding areas since Wednesday night.
North Bengal Also in the Firing Line
The weather system's reach extends to North Bengal as well. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain, while Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Uttar Dinajpur face heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds of 30–40 kmph. Rain was already reported in Malda, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong on Thursday morning.
Friday Outlook and When Relief May Come
Rainfall is expected to continue into Friday, with West Midnapore, East Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan, and Birbhum in South Bengal remaining under heavy rain advisories. In North Bengal, Jalpaiguri may see heavy to very heavy rain at one or two places, while Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar also remain on watch. Conditions in South Bengal are expected to ease somewhat from Saturday, with scattered light to moderate rain likely to continue. North Bengal will see gradual improvement as well, though Jalpaiguri may see persistent heavy rain beyond the weekend.
Point of View
And West Bengal's vulnerability to rapid-onset urban flooding, particularly in Kolkata and the 24 Parganas belt, remains structurally unaddressed. What the Met forecast underlines is the inadequacy of last-mile early warning: heavy rain advisories covering more than a dozen districts simultaneously dilute actionability for local administrators. The north Bengal angle is also worth watching — Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar sit in a flood-prone corridor where even moderate intensification can trigger riverine flooding across the Teesta and Torsa systems. The real test will be whether district disaster management authorities activated pre-emptive protocols, or waited for water levels to cross thresholds.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is South Bengal receiving heavy rain on 24 September 2026?
A deep depression that formed over the Bay of Bengal made landfall near the southwest of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh late on Wednesday night and has been moving west-northwestward, bringing widespread rain to West Bengal since then. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across several South Bengal districts through Friday.
Which districts in West Bengal are under heavy rain warning?
In South Bengal, heavy rain warnings cover Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, and Birbhum, with heavy to very heavy rain expected at isolated places in Dum Dum and Jhargram. In North Bengal, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar face heavy to very heavy rain, while Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Uttar Dinajpur are also under heavy rain advisories.
When will the rain stop in Kolkata and South Bengal?
According to the IMD, rain is expected to continue through Friday across South Bengal. Weather conditions are forecast to improve somewhat from Saturday, though scattered light to moderate rain may persist. North Bengal will see a gradual improvement, but Jalpaiguri may continue to receive heavy rain beyond the weekend.
How strong were the winds when the deep depression made landfall?
When the deep depression crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kalingapatnam, winds were blowing at 55–65 kmph with gusts reaching 75 kmph in some areas. The system was subsequently located about 80 km north-northeast of Visakhapatnam and 170 km southwest of Gopalpur, Odisha, as it moved inland.
Will the deep depression intensify further over West Bengal?
According to the IMD, the system is expected to maintain its strength for approximately 12 hours before gradually weakening over the following 24 hours as it moves further north-westward over land. No intensification is forecast; the primary risk remains sustained heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple districts.
