Cyclone Storm ‘Dana’ is fast approaching the coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal. With real-time data from ISRO satellites EOS-06 and INSAT-3DR and weather warnings from the IMD, the administrative machinery in these states is geared up to face the storm.
As of Thursday afternoon, Cyclone Dana was located 200 km off the Odisha coast. The cyclone is expected to land early Friday between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha, with wind speeds touching 120 km/h.
Cyclone Dana: IMD Warning
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra warned that Odisha and the coastal districts of West Bengal could face a significant impact. Interior districts of Odisha may experience wind speeds of 50 to 60 km/hr on the 24th and 25th. Mohapatra said IMD has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for south Jharkhand districts, where the wind speed could hit 40 to 50 km/hr.
In Odisha, with Cyclone Dana looming over coastal Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts, many seaside villages are witnessing intermittent rains and strong winds. Following urgent appeals from the administration, people are moving to relief shelters.
Transportation Disrupted
State capital Bhubaneshwar came to a halt today. Normal life here was affected, with people choosing to stay indoors. With the East Coast Railway (ECoR) canceling 203 trains, the busy Bhubaneshwar Railway Station appeared largely empty with just stranded tourists seeking shelter.
Bhubaneshwar Airport suspended operations from 5 pm today (Oct 24), till 9 am tomorrow (Oct 25). In a similar move, Kolkatta airport suspended flights for 15 hours starting from 6 pm today. The airport said, its entry and exit would be sealed and aircrafts securely tied in their bays after the last flight.
Safety Measures Taken by Odisha & West Bengal
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asked officials to ensure ‘Zero Casualties’ during the natural disaster. He said 300,000 people have been moved to 7,285 cyclone centers monitored by 91 medical teams. The state has kept 19 NDRF teams, and 51 ODRAF teams, along with fire service personnel ready for evacuations and clearing blocked roads.
To protect migratory birds during Cyclone Dana, Amlan Nayak, DFO of the Chilika Wildlife Division, told news agency ANI, “We have adequate resources, including 21 teams dedicated to bird monitoring. All teams, along with our staff, have been instructed to be ready with the necessary equipment to handle any emergencies immediately.”
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government has identified and moved 3.5 lakh people from low-lying areas to relief camps. Offering a word of assurance, CM Banerjee added that she would stay put in the secretariat on Thursday night till Cyclone Dana makes landfall, to monitor the situation directly.
Source: Hindustan Times | India Today