Bhitarkanika National Park Shut For 3 Days As Cyclone ‘Dana’ Approaches Odisha Coast

Kendrapada: With severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ set to make a landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra in Odisha, the authorities have swung into action and undertaken a number of safety measures.

Officials said the Bhitarkanika National park located in Kendrapada district has been closed for three days from Wednesday and tourists have been asked to leave by evening.

The National Park will remain closed for three days on October 23, 24 and 25. All bookings made by tourists for night stay have been cancelled. Tourists have been advised to leave the park as all eco-tourism and tourism centres have been closed, said DFO, Rajnagar, Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav

All employees of the National Park have been kept on high alert with closure of the wildlife reserve for tourists for the next three days Thursday. A decision on entry of visitors to the reserve will be decided after assessing the post-cyclone situation.

The National Park authorities have formed special teams to prevent any intentional or inadvertent entry of people and undertaken precautionary measures to meet any eventuality and minimise damage and loss to the forest and animals during passing of cyclone Dana, the DFO said.

Keeping in view the possibility of crocodiles and snakes moving close to human settlements during the cyclone, two teams have formed to respond to distress calls from locals and rescue the reptiles. One team has been deployed in Bhitarkanika, while the other in Rajnagar.

This apart, five teams have been formed in coordination with the Kendrapara district administration to deal with any kind of disruption in road communication due to felling of trees during the cyclone. These teams have been deployed in Aul, Kanika, Rajnagar, Pattamundai and Mahakalpada.

In addition, a divisional control room has also been activated and patrolling boats have been moored.