Cyclone Dana strikes Odisha and West Bengal: Key developments and impact | IN POINTS
PTC Web Desk: Cyclone Dana made a formidable landfall on the Odisha coast late Thursday night, unleashing torrential rains and powerful winds across the region. With wind speeds reaching approximately 110 km/h, the cyclone made landfall between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that the landfall process commenced around midnight and would persist for the next one to two hours, impacting districts such as Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur.
The storm's intensity caused widespread destruction in the coastal districts of Odisha, including significant tree falls and structural damage reported in areas like Vansaba, Bhadrak, and Dhamra. As of 6 am on Friday, the IMD confirmed that the cyclone was about 20 km north of Dhamra and expected to move westward within Odisha, gradually weakening to a "cyclone" by noon.
In preparation for Cyclone Dana, the Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, executed extensive emergency measures. The authorities evacuated approximately 5.8 lakh people from vulnerable areas and deployed 385 rescue teams, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and fire service personnel. Additionally, around 150 platoons of Odisha Police were mobilised for rescue operations and road clearing activities. The state's proactive measures aimed to mitigate loss of life and property in the face of the impending storm.
Cyclone Dana's impact was also felt in neighbouring West Bengal, particularly in East Midnapore and Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that over 2.43 lakh people sought shelter in designated camps. She stayed at the state secretariat throughout Thursday night to monitor the situation closely. The West Bengal government took similar precautions, including evacuations from low-lying areas and the closure of educational institutions on Friday.
Transportation Disruptions
Flight operations at Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were suspended on Thursday evening as a precautionary measure. Services at both airports were scheduled to resume at 9 am on Friday. Furthermore, more than 400 train services traversing the two states were cancelled in anticipation of the cyclone's impact.
In Odisha, the government reported that out of over 4,400 pregnant women evacuated to cyclone shelters, approximately 1,600 have given birth, with both mothers and newborns in good health. The health department continues to provide care to these families at various centres across the state.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
According to the IMD, while Cyclone Dana is expected to weaken as it moves further into Odisha, heavy rainfall is anticipated across many regions. The districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly in West Bengal are under a warning for extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall on Friday.
Fishermen have been advised to steer clear of the Bay of Bengal and coastal areas of Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh until the storm dissipates. An 'orange' alert has been issued for the Kolhan region in Jharkhand, covering West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan, and East Singhbhum districts. Local authorities have closed all educational institutions from kindergarten to class 12 in these districts.
Both state governments have been in constant communication with the central authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to enquire about the response measures taken against Cyclone Dana. PM Modi assured the Odisha government of full support from the Centre in managing the cyclone's impact.
Similarly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been actively involved in overseeing the situation, ensuring that adequate resources and personnel are available to address the challenges posed by the severe storm.
- With inputs from agencies
