Bhubaneswar, October 23: Cyclone Dana, a severe cyclonic storm, is barreling towards the Odisha-West Bengal coast and is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika Park and Dhamra Port on October 25.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy rainfall and wind alerts for several districts in both states.
Approximately 10,60,336 people are likely to be evacuated before Cyclone Dana makes landfall early Friday," quoted a senior official from the Special Relief Commissioner. The official also added that arrangements have been made to protect lives and property
Preparations are underway to evacuate nearly 10 lakh people from coastal areas prone to severe damage. Odisha government authorities, including the Coast Guard, NDRF, and state disaster response teams, are on high alert, and all schools in the coastal regions have been shut.
The state governments have also set up relief camps with provisions for food, water, sanitation, and medical services to accommodate evacuees.
Districts to Be Affected:
In Odisha, 14 districts are on high alert: Angul, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, and Mayurbhanj.
In West Bengal, the storm is expected to impact South and North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, and nearby districts such as Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram, and Hooghly.
The cyclone, currently intensifying over the Bay of Bengal, is predicted to hit with wind speeds of 100-110 mph, gusting up to 120 mph.
Coastal infrastructure, including cyclone and flood shelters, has been prepped for those being relocated, informed Suresh Pujari, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Odisha
Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain reported that 17 fire brigade teams, along with NDRF and ODRAF units, have been deployed across key locations to ensure a swift response to any emergencies.
Additionally, 179 shelters and 370 additional temporary relief camps have been readied for evacuees. The state government has also advised tourists to steer clear of vulnerable areas as the storm approaches.
The state government officials are vigilant as the region braces for the cyclone's landfall on Friday morning.
