Midweek showers expected to provide temporary relief from rising pollution in Kolkata, says meteorological department

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecasted a potential respite from the escalating air pollution in Kolkata as a low-pressure area develops in the southeast Bay of Bengal. Anticipated to bring rain at least twice between Wednesday and Friday, the showers may temporarily alleviate the city from its standing as one of the 'most-polluted' metropolitans.

While the RMC has not specified the expected magnitude of rainfall, the timing is crucial as Kolkata grapples with very poor air quality. RMC Director GK Das mentioned that the coastal districts of south Bengal are likely to receive rainfall, but the impact on air pollution depends on the distribution, emphasizing the uncertainty.

However, there is a cautious note from Das, stating that an incursion of winds from the Bay, carrying moisture to the Bengal coast, might increase relative humidity in Kolkata from Thursday onwards. This could potentially exacerbate air pollution temporarily by drawing pollutants closer to the atmosphere. Despite recent showers in Delhi, Kolkata overtook the capital city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 269, making it the most-polluted city, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The RMC also mentioned that prevailing cold northwesterly winds are likely to continue over the next few days, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to rise to about 31°C and 23°C, respectively, by the end of the week.