Cyclone Dana is approaching the Odisha coast, with landfall expected by October 25. The state is preparing to evacuate approximately 1 million people from coastal districts. In West Bengal, more than 114,000 residents have already been moved to shelters as a precaution.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state’s preparedness, noting that only about 30% of the targeted evacuees from the ‘danger zone’ had been evacuated by Wednesday evening. The cyclone is forecasted to bring wind speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) and is predicted to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port by Friday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone, which formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal, is also expected to bring heavy rainfall to several southern districts of West Bengal, including Kolkata.
In light of the impending storm, the Eastern and South Eastern railways have canceled numerous trains on October 24 and 25. As of Wednesday morning, Cyclone Dana was situated 420 km southeast of Paradip, 450 km south-southeast of Dhamra, and 500 km south-southeast of Sagar Island.
Ferry services in the Sunderbans, spanning North and South 24 Parganas and the River Hooghly in Kolkata, will also be suspended due to the weather conditions. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has opened a control room and canceled leave for essential staff to address any emergencies. The Odisha power department has set up helplines for public assistance.
Latest Updates:
- Odisha: Chief Minister Majhi confirmed that over 30% of the planned evacuations are underway, with a target to evacuate 1,060,336 people from 14 districts.
- West Bengal: The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extreme downpours expected in North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly districts on October 24 and 25.
- Train Cancellations: More than 170 express and passenger trains in the South Eastern Railway zone have been canceled due to the cyclone, with additional cancellations possible if needed. The Eastern Railway will suspend EMU local train services from Sealdah and has canceled 68 suburban trains in its Howrah division on October 25.
- Flight Suspensions: Flight operations at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata will be suspended for 15 hours, starting at 6 PM on October 25, resuming at 9 AM on October 26.
- School Closures: The West Bengal government has announced that schools and academic institutions will be closed in several districts from October 23 to 26. Similarly, all educational institutions in 14 districts of Odisha will remain closed until October 25.
- Rescue Operations: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 56 teams across five states, including Odisha and West Bengal, in preparation for the cyclone.
- Coast Guard Preparedness: The Indian Coast Guard is on high alert, with vessels and aircraft positioned to respond quickly to any emergencies arising from the cyclone’s impact.
