Friday, October 21 2005 16:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Heavy rains left two dead and over one lakh affected in West Bengal as a low pressure area settled on the state's coastal border with Orissa today (Oct 21, 2005) with more rainfall predicted in the next 48 hours.

A general alert has already sounded in the state with heavy rains lashing entire Gangetic West Bengal.

Relief Minister H A Sairani told PTI that two persons died in wall collapse at Bishnupur in South 24 Parganas district and Khejuri in East Midnapore district.

Widespread waterlogging, triggered by heavy rains, affected over one lakh people in Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas and East and West Midnapore districts, he said.

Normal life in the metropolis was hit for the second consecutive day following moderate to heavy rains causing widespread flooding and traffic snarls at important intersections.

People had to wade through flooded streets in many areas, as tram services were withdrawn and public transport thinned.

Train services in both Eastern and South Eastern Railways were hit with tracks submerged.

The weatherman said that as a result of the low pressure, currently lying near the West Bengal-Orissa coast after shifting from the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh-Orissa coastal belt, heavy rainfall has been forecast in the next 48 hours.

The sea resort of Digha recorded a rainfall of 20 cm, followed by Durgachak 13 cm, Diamond Harbour 12 cm, Canning nine cm, Alipore eight cm and Dum Dum five cm.