An orange alert for some parts of West Bengal and forecast of “thunderstorms with lightning” by Kolkata’s Regional Meteorological Centre pose a serious washout threat to the season opening match of IPL 2025 between the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
The 18th edition of the IPL is set to get underway with a glitzy opening ceremony planned at the iconic venue, but it could all turn into a damp affair as per the weather forecast.
The ground-staff at the venue is taking no chances and had put the entire playing area under covers on Thursday as precaution while clouds hung over the iconic venue.
Star singers Shreya Ghosal and Karan Aujla besides Bollywood actress Disha Patani are scheduled to entertain the crowd ahead of the inaugural match.
But the rain threat looms large.
The Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast reads: “A trough runs from central Odisha to Vidarbha, and there is wind confluence over east and adjoining central India due to the above trough and anticyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels. Isolated to scattered light or moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on March 20 and 21,” it added.
As a result, IMD has issued an orange alert till March 22.
Kolkata’s Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast “thunderstorms with lightning and strong gusty surface winds are very likely to occur in some districts of West Bengal during 20-22 March 2025″.
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