Cyclone Dana to Make Landfall Tonight: Odisha and Bengal on High Alert
Odisha and West Bengal are bracing for Cyclone Dana, which is set to make landfall late tonight near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra in Odisha. With wind speeds expected to range between 100-120 kmph, both states have been placed on high alert. The cyclone is projected to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, starting late Thursday and continuing into Friday morning. Authorities have ramped up evacuation efforts, suspended transport services, and stationed disaster relief teams to minimize damage.
IMD Issues Strong Warnings
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe weather conditions as Cyclone Dana intensifies. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director-General of the IMD, confirmed that the cyclone’s landfall will begin on the night of October 24 and may continue until the early hours of October 25. “The maximum wind speed during this period is expected to reach 120 kmph,” said Mohapatra, emphasizing the importance of preparedness for high-speed winds, heavy rainfall, and possible flooding in coastal and low-lying areas.
Evacuations and Safety Measures
The Odisha government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi, has taken extensive steps to safeguard lives. More than 3 to 4 lakh residents from vulnerable areas like Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri have already been evacuated. “We have relocated over 30% of the population in high-risk zones and plan to evacuate 90% by tomorrow morning,” said the Chief Minister, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Similarly, West Bengal has evacuated over 1.4 lakh people from regions likely to be hit by the cyclone, including Sagar Island, the Sundarbans, and Kakdwip. The evacuation drive is expected to relocate an additional 2.8 lakh individuals from districts such as Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and Kolkata by tomorrow morning.
Transport and Tourism Disrupted
To prevent any untoward incidents, flight operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport will be suspended for 16 hours, starting this evening. Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport will also halt flights for 15 hours starting at 6 pm. In addition to flight cancellations, the Eastern Railway has suspended 190 local trains as a precautionary measure. Tourists in popular seaside destinations like Digha, Shankarpur, and Tajpur have been strongly advised to remain indoors and avoid entering the sea.
Disaster Relief in Full Swing
Disaster management teams have been deployed across both states to ensure quick response and recovery. A total of 56 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been positioned in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh to handle the potential fallout. The Odisha government has 20 teams at its disposal, while West Bengal has 17, including reserves. Coast Guard units remain on high alert, and fishermen in both states have been strictly warned not to venture into the sea.
The governments of Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand have also prepared for heavy rains and flooding, with nine NDRF teams stationed in each state.
