Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: Cyclone Dana, which made landfall shortly after midnight on Thursday, severely impacted the coastal districts of Odisha. With wind speeds exceeding 110 km/h, the storm unleashed heavy rainfall and fierce gusts across the region, also affecting parts of West Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the landfall process continued until Friday morning. As the storm moved westward, it weakened to a "cyclone," reducing the likelihood of its impact on West Bengal, although heavy rains are expected to persist.
The storm caused significant destruction in areas such as Bhadrak, and Dhamra, leading to multiple instances of tree falls and damage to structures. Roads were closed across the region, disrupting all modes of transport. As the recovery process begins, authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those affected.
Key Updates:
School Closures: Schools and educational institutions in Odisha and parts of Jharkhand were ordered to remain closed on Friday.
Flight and Train Cancellations: Flight operations were suspended until 9 am, and over 400 trains in the affected states were canceled.
Government Response: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation with disaster management officials. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah assured the state of their full support.
Evacuations: Approximately 5.84 lakh people were evacuated in Odisha.
Health Updates: Out of more than 4,400 pregnant women moved to cyclone shelters in Odisha, 1,600 have successfully given birth, and both mothers and infants are reported to be in good health.
Rainfall Alerts: North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly in West Bengal are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall. Fishermen are advised to stay away from coastal areas until conditions improve. An 'orange' alert has been issued for the Kolhan region in Jharkhand, with schools closed and NDRF teams deployed for emergencies.
Casualties and Damage: Over 15 boats sank in Kendrapara, and reports of uprooted trees have surfaced across the region.
