Kolkata: Kolkata and adjoining districts witnessed a squall accompanied by rainfall on Thursday evening, leading to a significant drop in night temperature and providing relief to residents.

The adjoining districts of Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas also witnessed a similar situation.

Earlier on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department had forecast thunderstorms over most districts of West Bengal over the next few days.

The bulletin stated that thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph are very likely to occur over the south Bengal districts of North and South 24-Parganas, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Hooghly and Nadia till May 4.

On Wednesday, several places in the state experienced moderate to heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds.

Amta in Howrah district received the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours till 8.30 am on Thursday, at 97 mm, the IMD said.

Other places that received a good amount of rainfall include Salt Lake (63 mm), Kolkata (54 mm), Dum Dum (54 mm), Mainaguri (67 mm), Mathabhanga (61 mm), Alipurduar (57 mm) and Hasimara (56 mm), it added. Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 20.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, nearly six notches below normal, it added. WITH INPUTS FROM AGENCIES