By Suryagni Roy: At least five people were killed in West Bengal after being struck by lightning as a nor’wester hit the southern districts of the state, including Kolkata, on Monday evening, uprooting trees and damaging a few vehicles as wind speeds reached 84 kmph.
The weather department said the squall, recorded at its Alipore observatory in Kolkata, lasted for three minutes from 5.41 pm and had a maximum wind gust of 84 kmph.
The squall bore a maximum wind gust of 62 kmph at Dumdum in northern part of the city and lasted one minute at 6 pm, said the met department.
Besides Kolkata, the nor’wester hit other south Bengal districts including Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Howrah, Nadia and South and North 24 Parganas.
Light to moderate rain accompanied the squall in various districts, including in Kolkata, it said.
The squall brought down several trees in the Maidan area near Victoria Memorial and in the Lake Gardens area in south Kolkata, damaging a few cars, reported news agency PTI.
The Disaster Management Group was deployed to remove the felled trees and clear the roads. The nor’wester, occurring during evening peak hours, caused heavy traffic snarls in the city, as felled trees blocked roads in some places.
WHAT IS A SQUALL?
A squall is a sudden and intense windstorm, often accompanied by heavy rain, snow, or hail. Squalls are most commonly associated with thunderstorms, winter storms, and tropical cyclones.
Squalls can be very dangerous for those caught in them, as they can cause sudden and violent changes in weather conditions.
In the open sea, squalls can cause large waves, posing danger for ships and other vessels. On land, squalls can knock down trees, power lines, and other structures, causing damage and power outages.
(With input from PTI)
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