Cyclone ‘Dana’: 40 Flights From Bhubaneswar Affected, Over 200 Trains Cancelled

Bhubaneswar: Over 200 trains have been cancelled and flights suspended in view of Cyclone Dana, which is expected to make landfall close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra along Odisha coast during midnight and Friday morning with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph. 

Biju Patnaik International Airport will halt operations from 5 pm on Thursday to 9 am Friday with forecasted wind speeds of 70-80 kmph. “We are expecting a wind speed of 35-40 knots or even more in Bhubaneswar due to the severe cyclone, which is not safe for flight operations. Services of 40 flights will be affected. Some of these will be cancelled, some delayed and other rescheduled. A flight to Kuala Lumpur was suspended today,” informed Bhubaneswar Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan.

He further stated that the situation will reviewed thereafter and a decision on flight operations after 9 am on Friday will be taken accordingly. “The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Central Headquarters in Delhi are monitoring the situation and we are complying with the advisories issued by the authorities. Passengers’ safety is paramount for us,” Pradhan added.

The severe cyclonic storm is about 180 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 210 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 270 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal) at 11.30 am. It is expected to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra (Odisha) during midnight and Friday morning with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’ 210 km From Odisha’s Dhamra; Check Possible Landfall Point & District-Wise Wind Warning

The East Coast Railways has cancelled 198 trains that either originate from or pass through Odisha. More than 170 express and passenger trains have been cancelled across the South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction, with additional cancellations possible as the situation evolves. The LTT-Puri Express, Durg-Puri Express, Brahmapur-Surat Express, Puri-Durg Express, Puri-Ajmer Express, Puri-Ahmedabad Express, and Puri-Rishikesh Express, Rishikesh-Puri Utkal Express and Surat-Brahmapur Express were cancelled on October 23. Visakhapatnam-Amritsar Hirakud Express and Puri-Nizamuddin Express will remain cancelled on October 25 and Ahmedabad-Puri Express on October 26.

“Railway has taken many steps in view of cyclone ‘Dana’. Railway Minister has reviewed our preparations and directed us to ensure as less traffic disruption as possible, so that we can manage during this cyclone effectively,”  General Manager of East Coast Railway Parmeshwar Funkwal told reporters.

Also Read: ECoR Issues Helpline Numbers Ahead Of Cyclone ‘Dana’ Landfall In Odisha

All educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, will remain in 14 districts – Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack – till October 25.

Popular tourists sites like Sun Temple at Konark as well as the beaches in Puri, Konark and Jagatsinghpur districts have also been made out of bounds for visitors during this period.

Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’: Mandaps & These Places In Bhubaneswar To Remain Shut On October 24-25

The Odisha Public Service Commission(OPSC) has postponed the Odisha Civil Services Preliminary Examination – 2023-24, which is scheduled to be held on October 27. As per the official notice published by the Commission, the revised date for the exam will be notified after a week.

Meanwhile, two Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida have rushed to vulnerable locations ahead of landfall.  While KV is in Kendrapada district, where Cyclone ‘Dana’ is expected to make landfall at midnight, Pravati Parida has reached Astarang in Puri district to take stock of the situation.