Cyclone Dana to Make Landfall Tonight, Odisha and Bengal on High Alert: 10 Key Facts

New Delhi: Cyclone Dana is set to make landfall tonight, October 24, near Odisha’s Bhitarkanika and Dhamra regions, with a predicted wind speed of 100-120 km per hour. Both Odisha and West Bengal have initiated emergency measures, including evacuations and suspending flight and rail services to ensure public safety. Here are the top 10 developments on this critical story:

1. Landfall Timing and Location: Cyclone Dana is expected to cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, starting Thursday night. The landfall process will continue until Friday morning, October 25.

2. Wind Speed Warning: According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum wind speeds during landfall are predicted to reach 120 km/h, causing significant disruption in affected areas.

3. Evacuations in Odisha: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi confirmed that extensive arrangements are underway to safeguard people in districts along the cyclone’s path, including Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri. Approximately 30% of the vulnerable population has already been evacuated, with a goal to relocate 90% by 11 am on Friday.

4. Mass Evacuations in West Bengal: Over 1.4 lakh people have been evacuated from critical areas in West Bengal, such as Sagar Island, the Sundarbans, and Kakdwip. Another 2.8 lakh people will be relocated from Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Paschim and Purba Medinipur, and Kolkata.

5. Flight and Train Suspensions in Odisha: Flight operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport will be halted for 16 hours starting Thursday evening, while train services across the state have also been suspended.

6. Suspension of Services in West Bengal: Kolkata airport will cease operations for 15 hours starting 6 pm on Thursday. Additionally, the Eastern Railway has cancelled 190 local train services in the state as a precautionary measure.

7. Safety Advisories for Tourists: Tourists in coastal regions of West Bengal, including Digha, Shankarpur, and Tajpur, have been urged to remain indoors and avoid entering the sea.

8. Disaster Relief on High Alert: Several battalions of Disaster Relief teams have been deployed across both states, with the Coast Guard on high alert. Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea.

9. NDRF Deployment: The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has stationed 56 teams across five states that may face heavy rains and flooding. Odisha has 20 teams (with one in reserve), while West Bengal has 17 teams (13 in reserve). Nine teams each have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, and one team is stationed in Chhattisgarh.

10. Further Impact: The cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall to nearby states such as Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where flooding is anticipated.

As Cyclone Dana approaches, both states are working tirelessly to minimize the impact and ensure the safety of the people. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.