Bhubaneswar: Moderate to heavy rainfall has been lashing 11 districts of Odisha under the impact of Cyclone Dana since Wednesday evening, as the severe cyclonic storm braces closer to Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
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11.30 AM
10 lakh people being relocated
At a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, the Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari informed that over 10 lakh people are being shifted to 6,500 relief centers spread across 13 districts. "We are monitoring the situation every minute to ensure that residents are safely relocated with police, local representatives, and women officers patrolling vulnerable areas. The irrigation department is on guard to handle flooding, as and when the need arises following heavy rainfall and landfall. Our Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and 178 fire teams are stationed on locations and are equipped with modern tools for rescue operations. Special arrangements have been made for pregnant women and critical patients, and medical teams are on standby," he stated.
Tourists stranded due to train cancellations have been brought from Puri to Bhubaneswar by road. The power supply remains stable, but backup support has been arranged in case of disruptions, the minister added.
10.55 AM
Cyclone May Take a Recurve: Regional Met Office
Speaking to media persons, Director of Regional Met Centre in Bhubaneswar Dr Manorama Mohanty on Thursday said heavy to extreme heavy rainfall has begun in some places. While Chandbali in Bhadrak district has recorded 46.2 mm rainfall, Paradip 62.9 mm, Jagatsinghpur 27 mm, Rajkanika in Kendrapara 27 mm, Nilagiri in Balasore 27 mm and Betnoti in Mayurbhanj has so far received 19 mm rainfall. The rainfall activity is likely to increase close to the landfall hours and immediately after, she warned.
The wind speed in Kendrapada and Bhadrak will be high in the intensity between 100-110 km/h gusting to 120 km/h. Similarly, the wind speed will remain around 80-90 km/h in Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur and Cuttack while it will be 67-70 km/h in Puri, Khurda, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar districts. "Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Kendrapada and Bhadrak will be in the red alert category for both October 24 and 25," she informed.
The severe cyclonic storm is likely to recurve slightly towards west and west-southwards after landfall, the Director added.
9.30 AM
Present Position of Dana
It is very likely to move northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during mid-night of 24th to morning of 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph, the IMD said.
"The severe cyclonic storm “DANA” (pronounced as Dana) over central & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 24th October, over northwest & adjoining central Bay of Bengal, near latitude 18.5° N and longitude 88.2°E, about 260 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 290 km south-southeast of Dhamra (Odisha) and 350 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal)," the IMD stated.
The Meteorological Centre Bhubaneswar in its special weather bulletin has presented the likely wind speed of the cyclone Dana.
October 23, 9.30 PM
Closure of institutions, suspension of services
The Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath temple, Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj, Nandankanan zoo and Bhitarkanika sanctuaries will remain closed for two days, October 24 and 25, as a safety precaution due to the storm. The East Coast Railway has canceled 197 trains, including 94 up trains and 103 down trains, scheduled between October 23 and 26. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport has declared suspension of operations from 5 PM on Thursday until 9 AM on Friday as flights have been canceled.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Mohsen Shahidi on Wednesday said teams have been mobilised to different destinations in Odisha and West Bengal with all readiness. Now the focus is on safe evacuation before the landfall. "Our teams are placed at 20 spots in Odisha, 13 in West Bengal, while four additional teams are in reserve. We are trying to complete shifting of people to safe shelters as soon as possible," he said.
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