Cyclone “Dana,” originating from the Bay of Bengal, has commenced its landfall along the coast of Odisha, bringing with it wind speeds of 110 km per hour and heavy rainfall. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that the storm is moving in a north-northwest direction at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour over the last six hours.
The cyclone reached the Odisha coast with wind speeds of approximately 110 kilometers per hour between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak district. The landfall process, expected to last around five hours, is accompanied by winds accelerating to 120 kilometers per hour. Cyclone Dana is expected to affect the northern parts of Odisha as well as neighboring West Bengal.
Already, heavy rainfall has begun in several coastal regions of Odisha. Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and other areas may experience up to 30 cm (12 inches) of rain, with the rest of the coastal region potentially receiving 20 cm of rainfall. In anticipation of the storm, a massive evacuation effort has been undertaken, with 10 lakh people relocated across 14 districts of Odisha.
West Bengal is also preparing for the impact of Cyclone Dana. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata has been temporarily closed from 6 PM on Thursday to 9 AM on Friday. The West Bengal government has already evacuated over 1.5 lakh people from areas expected to be hardest hit by the storm. Out of this number, over 83,000 people have been safely housed in relief camps to shield them from the cyclone’s effects.
Cyclone Dana has led to widespread disruptions in transportation. Around 300 flights have been cancelled across Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports, with operations suspended from 5 PM on Thursday until 9 AM on October 25. Additionally, rail services have been significantly affected. The South East Railway, East Coast Railway, Eastern Railway, and South East Central Railway have collectively cancelled 552 trains.
As the cyclone barrels through the region, authorities have taken steps to protect important cultural sites and reduce risks to the public. In Puri, all temporary tents within the Jagannath temple complex have been removed as a precaution. Sandbags have been placed on asbestos roofs to prevent them from being torn away by the winds. The famous Konark Sun Temple has also been closed for the next two days.
The state of Odisha has taken extensive measures to prepare for the storm. A total of 288 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and the fire brigade have been deployed to manage the crisis. These teams are spread across the affected districts, ready to provide assistance and ensure safety.
In response to the cyclone, schools and colleges in 14 districts of Odisha will remain closed until October 25. Additionally, the Odisha High Court and all tourism parks in these regions have also been temporarily closed. Government employees have had their leave cancelled in order to ensure full availability of resources during the emergency response.
