Kolkata, June 1 (IANS): Respite is in sight for several West Bengal districts, reeling under the heat wave, with rainfall expected in the next 48 hours, the Met office said on Monday.

Light to moderate rainfall coupled with thundershowers is expected in districts in Gangetic plains such as Bibhum, Bankura, Burdwan, Purulia as well as east and west Midnapore, a Met official said.

The relatively cooler sub-Himalayan districts such as Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Darjeeling and Alipurduar will also get some respite in the next two days, the official said.

State capital Kolkata continued to sizzle with the double whammy of heat and humidity.

"The maximum temperature was around 36 degree Celsius while the minimum was at 29 degree Celsius. Maximum humidity levels hovered at 80 percent but dipped to 49 percent during the day," said the official.

Over a dozen people have succumbed to the intense heat wave sweeping across the state during the past couple of weeks.