IMD Cyclone Dana: According to the Meteorological Department, between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25, this cyclone Dana will pass between Sagar Island of Bengal and Puri in Odisha. At the time of landfall, its maximum speed can reach up to 120 kilometers.
Rainfall Update: The low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified on Monday and is likely to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by October 23. According to the weather forecast, it will reach the coasts adjoining Odisha and West Bengal on October 24. Due to which there will be heavy rain in both the states for three days i.e. Friday. Meteorologists have advised fishermen not to go to sea between October 23 and 25. From Wednesday, the wind speed is likely to reach 60 kilometers per hour (km per hour) on the Odisha-West Bengal coasts and will gradually increase to 100-110 km per hour. Winds will blow at a speed of 120 km per hour from the night of October 24 to the morning of October 25.
Landfall will happen between Puri and Sagar Island on the morning of 25 October
The India Meteorological Department said, “This system is likely to cross the North Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island on the night of 24 October and the morning of 25 October. During this time, winds will blow as a severe cyclonic storm with a speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.”
Red alert in these districts of Odisha-Bengal, schools also closed
The IMD has issued a red alert (take action) of heavy to very heavy rains (7 to 20 cm) with extremely heavy rains (more than 20 cm) at isolated places. Along with this, thunderstorms with lightning are likely in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha on October 24. Special Relief Commissioner DK Singh has asked the School and Mass Education Department to close schools in 14 potentially affected districts from October 23 to 25 as a precautionary measure. Schools will remain closed in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh and Cuttack districts. At the same time, for West Bengal, the Meteorological Office has predicted heavy rains in the coastal districts of East and West Medinipur and North and South 24 Parganas on October 23.
President Draupadi Murmu-Amit Shah’s visit cancelled
The inauguration of the Rs 450 crore modern passenger terminal at Petrapole in Bengal on the India-Bangladesh border, which was to be done by Home Minister Amit Shah on October 23, has been postponed in view of Cyclone Dana. At the same time, President Draupadi Murmu’s three-day Odisha visit scheduled from Wednesday has been postponed in view of the impending cyclone. Murmu was scheduled to visit Bangriposi, Uparbeda, Rairangpur, Puri and Bhubaneswar during her stay.
Odisha government engaged in preparations
The Odisha government has also urged tourists to leave the coastal pilgrimage town of Puri between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25 before the cyclone hits the state’s coast. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials to ensure 100 percent evacuation of people from areas likely to be affected by the cyclone. He also directed officials to keep adequate quantity of food, drinking water and medicines in cyclone shelters. Majhi urged people not to panic as the state government is fully prepared to deal with the situation.
Appeal to fishermen to return
Majhi also directed the district collectors of Puri and Jagatsinghpur to ensure that fishermen return to the coast before the cyclone hits the state’s coast. A total of 11 fishermen from the two districts are in the sea. IMD Director General Mrityunjay Mahapatra said in Bhubaneswar that Odisha is likely to be the worst affected as the cyclone will bring high-speed winds and extremely heavy rains.
Yellow-orange alert issued for these districts
The IMD has issued an orange alert (get ready to take action) of heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20 cm) with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts. Apart from this, a yellow alert (be cautious) of heavy rain (7 to 11 cm) and thunderstorms with lightning has also been issued for isolated places in Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Alert in these districts of Bengal
The IMD said that heavy to very heavy rains are likely at one or two places in East and West Medinipur, South 24 Parganas and Jhargram districts in West Bengal on October 24 and 25. The weather office also said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Purulia and Bankura districts on October 24 and 25.
