Cyclone Dana to make landfall in Odisha, Bengal on Oct 25 | Check updates

Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall on Odisha-West Bengal coasts in the early hours of October 25. The storm, which originated in the Bay of Bengal, is rapidly intensifying and expected to hit the coasts with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph and bring heavy downpours and severe weather.

The governments of Odisha and West Bengal have started evacuating residents in vulnerable areas. Educational institutions are also to remain closed. Indian Coast Guard remains on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for fishermen in the area.

The Odisha Government has planned to move over a million people from 3,000 villages in 14 districts to relief camps. The cyclone is likely to affect half of the state’s population, news agency PTI reported.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Here are the updates about cyclone Dana:

• The IMD confirmed that a deep depression over the east-central region of the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm. Cyclone Dana is expected to strengthen into a severe storm reaching wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
• Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall in the early hours of October 25 on the coasts between Puri, Odisha and Sagar Island, West Bengal. IMD has predicted heavy rainfall and strong winds.
• The Indian Coast Guard is on high alert and has mobilised its vessels and aircraft to quickly respond to any emergency that may arise due to severe weather from the cyclone.
• Odisha government has issued an alert for 14 districts in the state including Puri, Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Nayagarh, Khordha, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, and Ganjam.
• 13 NDRF teams have been deployed across the regions likely to be affected by the storm for rescue and relief operations.
• Various cyclone shelters and food shelters have been arranged to provide food, water, sanitation and health facilities for people evacuated from vulnerable regions, said Suresh Pujari, revenue and disaster management minister.
• All educational institutions are to remain closed in 14 districts of Odisha from October 23 to 25 due to weather conditions likely to be caused by the cyclone. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced Schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure.
• Over 150 express and passenger trains run through South Eastern Railway jurisdiction scheduled between October 23 and 25 have been cancelled. The East Coast Railways has also cancelled 198 trains running through and from Odisha.
• The IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea from October 23 to 25 as wind speeds are likely to increase along the Odisha-West Bengal coasts gradually.
• South Bengal districts, including South 24 Parganas, Paschim and Purba Medinipur, and Jhargram are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on October 24 and 25. Howrah, Kolkata, and Hoogly are also on alert for heavy downpours. Potential flood warnings are also issued in coastal districts.

(With inputs from agencies)