The weather in West Bengal has taken a turn for the worse in the third week of March. Following strong thunderstorms that hit Kolkata and South Bengal on Sunday evening, the Alipore Meteorological Department has issued a severe weather warning for the next six days. An ‘Orange Alert’ is in place for Hooghly, Bankura, East and West Bardhaman, and Birbhum, where wind speeds could reach 50–70 kmph.

The rest of South Bengal is under a ‘Yellow Alert.’ Meanwhile, North Bengal districts—Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar—are expected to face heavy rainfall and hailstorms. Reports of property damage, including a gate collapse in Gardenreach, have already surfaced.

The Met office has warned of continuous rain, thunderstorms, and lightning across all districts until Tuesday, with a higher intensity of storms expected in North Bengal. Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid low-lying areas during the peak storm hours.