Kolkata: An intense thundershower that pounded parts of Kolkata for an hour on Tuesday evening sent shoppers and hawkers scurrying for cover. With Mahalaya barely four days away, the rain left idol-makers in Kumartuli and pandal decorators across the city worried.Alipore recorded 5.9 mm of rainfall on Tuesday. Met officials said a mixed wind pattern — dry and moist — is normal when the monsoon is in its retreating phase. Local heating can trigger unstable conditions, leading to sharp downpours like the one on Tuesday evening.“We can expect scattered light rain on Wednesday with the possibility of enhanced showers on Thursday. After that, the days would be mainly dry,” said H R Biswas, head of RMC, Kolkata.On speculation about a low-pressure area developing in the second week of Oct that could affect Durga Puja celebrations, RMC officials said it was too early to predict. The broad two-week outlook indicates either a cyclonic circulation or a low-pressure area over southern Bay of Bengal. “Even if the system forms, it is unlikely to have any major impact in our region,” Biswas added.The Tuesday rain took many by surprise and the Met forecast has left traders, shoppers and puja committees worried.Gariahat, Hatibagan and New Market, packed with shoppers till afternoon, emptied out when the rain arrived. “Given that traders make nearly 40% of the annual business during the run-up to Durga Puja, such disruptions lead to a huge business loss,” said Debraj Ghosh, a hawkers’ union leader in Gariahat.Shopkeepers in New Market and malls also expressed concern. “Rain has been a dampener this year. Since the shopping momentum picked up late this year, we were hoping it would not be interrupted by rain,” said SS Hogg Market Traders Association president Ashok Gupta.Puja organisers said they were praying the rain would stop and grounds would dry before the festival begins. At Maddox Square and Bagbazar Sarbojanin, organisers said work had already been hit.“The pandal work had picked up pace in the past three days when it was relatively dry. But Tuesday evening’s rain has left us worried,” said Gautam Neogi of Bagbazar Sarbojanin. The fairground in Bagbazar is one of the worst-hit, said organisers.Ranajit Chakraborty of Ballygunge Puja Samity, which organises the Maddox Square Puja, said trucks of earth and sand had been used to raise the ground. “We have also set up wooden platforms for entry and exit of pandal-hoppers,” he said.Anjan Ukil, secretary of both Forum for Durgotsav and Ballygunge Cultural, said the rain has affected paintwork. “This is the stage at which sunny weather is required. If rain persists, we will have to improvise,” he said.In Kumartuli, most potters had taken precautions after Sunday’s showers. “The idols are mostly ready but some paint work is left. If it continues to rain like this, it will be difficult for the paint to dry,” said idol-maker Kartik Pal.Several organisers are taking delivery of idols wrapped in plastic sheets. “This has become an added task. We are wrapping up all the idols in plastic before delivering, but it is necessary,” said idol-maker Bikash Pal.(With inputs from Suhbro Niyogi & Zeeshan Jawed)
