National desk
24 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Cyclone ‘Dana’ has approached the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha, with the storm expected to make landfall early Friday morning. Heavy rains and strong winds are already battering coastal areas of both states, prompting urgent evacuation efforts. The governments of Bengal and Odisha are relocating residents from vulnerable coastal regions to safer locations.
Odisha Chief Minister Charan Majhi held a meeting to direct officials to ensure no loss of life due to the cyclone. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she will remain at the state secretariat overnight to personally monitor the situation, confirming that over 350,000 people have been evacuated to safety.
Kolkata Airport has suspended flights for 15 hours starting from 6 PM on Thursday, in preparation for the storm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that the cyclone will hit Bhitarakanika National Park and Dhamra Port with winds reaching 120 km per hour. Reports from Balasore, Bhadrak, Bhitarakanika, and Dhamra suggest strong winds have already uprooted trees and blocked roads.
Chief Minister Majhi stated that around 300,000 people have been moved to cyclone shelters, with 7,285 such centers established. The government has deployed 91 medical teams, 19 NDRF teams, 51 ODRAF teams, and fire service personnel for rescue and relief operations. An ‘orange alert’ has been issued for five districts, including Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, and Dhenkanal. The Indian Navy is on standby for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.