Kolkata, Oct 20 (IANS): Heavy rains lashed parts of Gangetic West Bengal on Friday with the Met office here forecasting "heavy to very heavy" rainfall at a few places during the next 24 hours to Saturday morning.
The Met office in Alipore recorded 54 mm of rainfall overnight (till 2.30 p.m. on Friday).
"The rainfall in Kolkata is moderate but close to heavy. Districts such as Malda and Dinajpur (both north and south) are set for heavy rains," an official said.
An IMD bulletin said: "Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would prevail along & off north Odisha and West Bengal coasts during next 24 hours and 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph along & off West Bengal coasts during subsequent 24 hours."
Also, fishermen along and off West Bengal coast have been advised not to venture into the sea during the next 48 hours.