Flight operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata were disrupted on Wednesday morning due to low visibility caused by dense fog. No flights were operational between 4.18 am and 6.16 am.
The airport declared Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) from 4.38 am onwards. Three domestic and one international flights were diverted, while 18 domestic and two international flights faced departure delays. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) declares LVP when visibility at an airport falls below 800 metres.
The airport declared Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) from 4.38 am onwards. Express Photo by Partha Paul
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose’s visit to Farakka in the Murshidabad district in a Border Security Force (BSF) helicopter was also cancelled due to poor visibility.
Winter set to get chillier in West Bengal
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore has predicted a temperature drop across southern Bengal, including Kolkata. A dense fog warning has been issued for five districts in northern Bengal, including Darjeeling, as well as some districts in southern Bengal.
The western districts of southern Bengal have experienced a brief pause in the temperature decline. Express Photo by Partha Paul
The dissipation of western cyclonic disturbances has created favourable conditions for winter in West Bengal. The cold air is now unobstructed, allowing it to move freely into the region. The minimum temperature in Kolkata dropped to 16 degrees Celsius, and it is expected to fall further in the coming days. Western cyclonic disturbances are low-pressure systems that originate from the Mediterranean Sea region and migrate towards the Indian subcontinent under the influence of westerly jet streams.
Due to the favourable weather conditions, experts predict a long winter for southern Bengal this year. In the next few days, the minimum temperature in Kolkata is expected to drop by 3-4 degrees Celsius.
The dissipation of western cyclonic disturbances has created favourable conditions for winter in West Bengal. Express Photo by Partha Paul
The northern regions of West Bengal are already feeling the effects of winter. Early Wednesday morning, the temperature in Darjeeling dropped to a chilly 4.2 degrees Celsius. Kalimpong recorded a temperature of 9.5 degrees Celsius, Alipurduar 10 degrees Celsius, and Raiganj registered 11.2 degrees Celsius, all indicating a significant decline in temperatures.
The western districts of southern Bengal have experienced a brief pause in the temperature decline. However, meteorologists predict that by the end of the week, the minimum temperature in several areas, including Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, West Medinipur, and Jhargram, may drop to 10 degrees Celsius or lower.
