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Monsoon weather and thunderstorms in West Bengal

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2026-08-14 04:49 UTC → 2026-08-19 02:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Severe monsoon weather has impacted West Bengal, India, causing fatalities and prompting meteorological warnings. On August 5, lightning strikes in the West Midnapore district killed four ~~women~~ women—identified as Tapas Sabra (59), Sumitra Khamrui (50), Kajal Naik (65), and Malati Patra (47)—and injured three others while they were working in agricultural fields. Police confirmed the deaths occurred in separate incidents across the Gamara, Bargai, and Radhamohanpur areas. A monsoon trough extending from Rajasthan to Bihar triggered these severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. The Indian Meteorological Department issued ~~alerts~~ a yellow alert for Kolkata and surrounding districts, forecasting intermittent thunderstorms, gusty ~~winds,~~ winds of 30–40 km/h, and high humidity. ~~Subsequent forecasts indicate that a~~ Heavy rain was expected to continue across multiple districts, including Bankura, Birbhum, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, and northern districts such as Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. Throughout mid-August, weather ~~system~~ systems over the Bay of Bengal ~~continues~~ continued to drive rain across both North and South ~~Bengal, with officials advising~~ Bengal. The Alipore Met Office reported scattered thunderstorms affecting Kolkata and surrounding areas, alongside heavy showers in North Bengal districts like Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. High humidity levels, reaching approximately 81%, have contributed to sultry conditions in Kolkata. Officials continue to advise the public to avoid open spaces, trees, and electric poles during storms.

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