Cyclone Dana is expected to hit the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Islands on October 24 (Thursday), bringing heavy rain to both states for three days.
The low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjacent to the north Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a depression by Tuesday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
“Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of 24th and early morning 25th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” IMD said.
The weather department has also advised fishermen to refrain from venturing into the sea between October 23 and 25. They warned that wind speeds along the Odisha-West Bengal coasts could reach 60 km/h on Wednesday, increasing to 100-110 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h, from the night of October 24 through the morning of October 25.
‘Red alert’ issued
The IMD has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm), with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) and thunderstorms with lightning in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha on October 24.
The IMD has also cautioned about potential flash floods, waterlogging in low-lying areas, inundation of agricultural fields, mudslides and landslides in vulnerable hilly regions, possible damage to roads, and the risk of wall collapses in at-risk houses.
For West Bengal, the weather department has forecasted heavy rain, particularly in the coastal districts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur, as well as North and South 24 Parganas, on October 23.
Schools Closed In Affected Districts
The Odisha government on Monday ordered the closure of schools in 14 affected districts from October 23 to 25 due to the impending cyclone as a precautionary measure.
Special Relief Commissioner DK Singh apprised the School and Mass Education department about the decision regarding the closure of the schools in the affected districts.
The districts where schools will remain closed include Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh, and Cuttack.
President Murmu, Amit Shah’s Visits Postponed
The inauguration of the Rs 450 crore modern passenger terminal at West Bengal’s Petrapole on the Indo-Bangladesh border, which was scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 23, has also been postponed in light of Cyclone Dana.
Additionally, President Droupadi Murmu’s three-day visit to Odisha, set to begin on Wednesday, has been postponed due to the impending cyclone expected to hit the state’s coast on October 25. She was scheduled to visit Bangriposi, Uparbeda, Rairangpur, Puri, and Bhubaneswar during her stay.
Odisha Govt Asks Tourists To Leave Puri
The Odisha government issued an advisory on Monday urging tourists to vacate the pilgrim town of Puri as soon as possible. State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced the advisory following a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
“The tourists who have come to Puri should leave the seaside pilgrim town soon as the district is likely to be affected by the severe cyclonic storm,” Pujari told the media.
The minister also stated that the Puri district administration has been instructed to discourage visitors from coming to the town from Tuesday until after the cyclone makes landfall, as it could pose risks to safety and cause damage.
(With inputs from agencies)
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