West Bengal and Odisha are bracing for the impact of Cyclone Dana which is expected to make landfall near Balasore on the night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.
Popular sea beaches of Odisha wore a deserted look even as NDRF, Indian Coast Guard and the state government took measures in view of the impending cyclone.
The IMD on Wednesday said the cyclone is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port, located around 70 km away from each other, early Friday.
ALSO READ | Schools Shut, NDRF On Standby, Trains Cancelled: Bengal, Odisha Prepare For Cyclone Dana Landfall
Meanwhile, the NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in five states, including Odisha and West Bengal, in view of cyclone ‘Dana’.
Where Will Cyclone Dana Impact?
An orange alert has been issued for the coast of Odisha and West Bengal coasts due to the impending severe cyclonic winds.
In Odisha, the cyclone is likely to affect Baleswar, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khorda, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Cuttack and Dhenkanal. While in West Bengal, the weather agency have warned that East & West Medinipur, South & North 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and Bankura are expected to be affected.
Current Location of Cyclone Dana
The Indian Meteorological Department said that cyclonic storm Dana has moved northwestwards with a speed of 12 km per hour during the past 6 hours.
Cyclonic storm “DANA” (pronounced as Dana) over Eastcentral & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 23rd October, over the same region near latitude 17.2° N and longitude… pic.twitter.com/lPE6ieiKNi
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 23, 2024
The cyclone is centred near latitude 17.2° N and longitude 88.9°E, which is about 420 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha, 450 km south-southeast of Dhamara and 500 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal.
Progression Of Cyclone Dana
The cyclonic storm is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal by early morning of October 24, the IMD said.
It will then cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island between the midnight of October 24 and the morning of October 25 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.
Heavy Rainfall Alert
Coastal districts in both Odisha and West Bengal are preparing for heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds on October 24 and 25. The met agency has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur, Puri and Khorda, districts of Odisha commencing from October 23 onwards.
Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall will occur at isolated places, including Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, Khorda and Puri in Odisha on October 24 and 25.
The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall for coastal areas, including districts in south Bengal such as North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly. Tourists in coastal areas such as Digha, Shankarpur, and Tajpur in Bengal have been advised to stay indoors and avoid entering the sea as a safety measure.
Meanwhile, parts of South Jharkhand will also receive light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy rainfall at isolated places on October 24 and 25.
Wind Warning
– East central Bay of Bengal: Wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph
– West central Bay of Bengal: Wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph
– Northwest Bay of Bengal: Wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph
– Odisha-west Bengal coasts: Wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph
– South Jharkhand: Wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph
In anticipation of the storm, flight operations at Kolkata airport will be suspended for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday to 9 am on Friday, while Eastern Railway has cancelled 190 local trains in its Sealdah division from 8 pm on Thursday to 10 am on Friday.
