Incessant rain lashed Kolkata and its adjoining areas since Thursday noon, inundating several thoroughfares, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters. According to the IMD, severe thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by intense rainfall and gusty winds with speeds of 50-60 kmph hit the city and parts of neighbouring Hooghly, Howrah, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts during the afternoon. "In view of favourable wind patterns and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, thunderstorms are very likely to occur over some districts of south Bengal and bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal over the next few days," the IMD said. It said sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar are very likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain till June 30, with the possibility of extremely heavy downpour at a few places from June 27 to 29. Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, are very likely till June 30 in some south Bengal districts, including North and South 24 Parganas, Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura, Murshidabad and Jhargram, the IMD said in its forecast. The incessant rain led to waterlogging on several roads in Kolkata and Salt Lake, triggering traffic snarls in many parts of the city. Vehicular movement slowed considerably in several areas due to waterlogged roads, causing delays for commuters. The city recorded 85 mm rainfall in nine hours till 5.30 pm on Thursday, while Salt Lake received 65 mm rain during the period, the IMD data said.