Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Hit Odisha, Bengal as Cyclone Dana Makes Landfall

Cyclone Dana made landfall early Friday morning along the Odisha coast, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds that caused widespread disruptions. The storm struck between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with wind speeds reaching up to 110 kmph.

Here are the key updates on Cyclone Dana:

1. Landfall and Impact: The landfall process began around midnight, with Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur districts experiencing extreme weather conditions, including wind speeds of 110 kmph and heavy rainfall.

2. IMD Update: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the landfall process is expected to last another 1-2 hours, after which the cyclone is likely to weaken into a cyclonic storm by forenoon.

3. Damage Reports: Numerous reports of trees being uprooted have been received in Bhubaneswar, Odisha’s capital, as the storm continues to wreak havoc in the region.

4. West Bengal Affected: In addition to Odisha, the cyclone's effects have also been felt in parts of West Bengal, especially in the East Midnapore district, where heavy rain and wind have been reported.

5. Airports Resume Operations: Operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, which were suspended as a precaution, resumed at 8 am today.

6. Evacuations: Both Odisha and West Bengal have seen large-scale evacuations. Odisha evacuated about 5.8 lakh people from vulnerable areas, while West Bengal's government reported that over 2.4 lakh people had taken shelter in relief camps.

7. Preparedness: In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's government deployed 385 rescue teams, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and other specialized forces. In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally monitored the situation from the state secretariat, ensuring real-time response to the unfolding crisis.

8. Train and Flight Cancellations: Over 400 trains have been cancelled, and flights were temporarily suspended in both Odisha and Bengal, though services are now gradually resuming as conditions improve.

9. Ongoing Rescue Operations: Odisha Police have deployed 150 platoons to assist with rescue efforts, road clearing, and disaster management activities.

10. Further Monitoring: The governments of both states remain on high alert as Cyclone Dana weakens, but authorities are prepared for any additional impact as the situation develops.

Both states have taken significant precautionary measures to minimize damage and ensure the safety of their citizens. However, the full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Dana is still being assessed as rescue and recovery operations continue.