The severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ made landfall late on Thursday night battering the coastal districts of Odisha and parts of West Bengal. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Odisha is currently experiencing strong winds blowing at a speed of 100 to 110 Kmph gusting up to 120 Kmph.
The landfall process is expected to continue till Friday morning today. IMD said that the storm has been located around 20 km north of Dhamra and is likely to move west-northwest across northern Odisha, gradually weakening into a severe cyclonic storm by the forenoon of October 25. The strong gusty winds and torrential rains, particularly in Vansaba, Bhadrak, and Dhamra, continued to wreak havoc in the region.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “Cyclone Dana made landfall on the intervening night of October 24 and 25 between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra coasts. This process continues till 7 am, today. Due to vigilant administration and preparedness, there has been no causality. The government’s target of ‘zero causality’ is achieved. Almost 6 lakh people have been shifted to safer places. 6,000 pregnant women are shifted to Health Centres.” He has been monitoring the situation from the State Emergency Control Room in Bhubaneswar, with state ministers and officials ensuring all arrangements are in place.
#WATCH | Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi says, "#CycloneDana made landfall on the intervening night of October 24 and 25 between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra coasts. This process continues till 7:00 am, today… Due to vigilant administration and preparedness, there has been no… pic.twitter.com/CuRCeuCtTA
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Cyclone Dana Updates
Schools and other educational institutions were shut down in Odisha and West Bengal ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall. Additionally, flight operations are affected at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, as the landfall process begins.
In the latest development, Airport Director (Bhubaneshwar) Prasanna Pradhan informed, “Flight operations will be resuming their services at 8:00 am today instead of 9:00 am from Biju Patnaik International Airport. About 400 Trains were reportedly canceled, running through the two states.
Turbulent sea, gusty winds, and incessant rainfall strike Dhamra, Bhadrak as an impact of Cyclone Dana. CM Majhi said that around 5.84 lakh people have been evacuated till now.
Hours before the landfall, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, also monitored the situation from the Government Control Room in Howrah.
As the landfall process continues, radar reflectivity suggests maximum impact over Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and some parts of Balasore. The Fire Service team is currently engaged in clearing roads as trees were uprooted in Bhadrak’s Dhamra owing to strong gusty winds and heavy rains.
