Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Depression moves to Jharkhand, heavy rain forecast in West Bengal
A big rain storm, called a depression, was sitting over parts of West Bengal.
On Tuesday, it started moving to a nearby place called Jharkhand.
This moving storm brings lots of rain with it.
Some places in West Bengal like Purulia and Bankura will get heavy rain.
Kolkata, a big city, already got so much rain that roads were filled with water.
That made cars get stuck in traffic.
The storm dropped a lot of water, and the most fell in a place called Asansol.
It rained there more than anywhere else in West Bengal.
Some hilly areas will also get rain for a few more days.
Weather scientists say the rain is because of clouds coming in from the Bay of Bengal.
A depression over Gangetic West Bengal moved towards Jharkhand on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Heavy rainfall is forecast for Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur until Wednesday morning.
Asansol recorded 157 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest in West Bengal.
Heavy rain on Monday caused waterlogging and traffic snarls in Kolkata and adjoining Salt Lake.
Sub-Himalayan districts including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri will see heavy rain until August 21.
- Who
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which issued the forecasts, and residents of West Bengal affected by the heavy rain.
- What
- A weather depression moved from Gangetic West Bengal towards Jharkhand, bringing heavy rain to western and sub-Himalayan districts.
- When
- Tuesday, with rainfall recorded in the 24 hours till 8:30 am; heavy rain in sub-Himalayan districts is expected until August 21.
- Where
- West Bengal and Jharkhand in India, including Kolkata, Salt Lake and districts across the state.
- Why
- An active monsoon trough and significant moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal caused the heavy rainfall.
- Weather system
- Depression over Gangetic West Bengal moving towards Jharkhand
- Highest rainfall
- Asansol, 157 mm in 24 hours till 8:30 am Tuesday
- Kolkata rainfall
- 59.8 mm in 24 hours
- Salt Lake rainfall
- 75.7 mm in 24 hours
- Western districts under alert
- Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur (till Wednesday morning)
- Sub-Himalayan districts under alert
- Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri (till August 21)
- Cause
- Active monsoon trough and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal