Bhubaneswar: The severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ was about 50 km east of Paradip and 60 km south-southeast of Dhamra along Odisha coast at 10.30 pm on Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“The storm over Northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 3 hours and lay centred over the same region at 10.30 pm, about 50 km east of Paradip (Odisha), 60 km south-southeast of Dhamra (Odisha) and 170 km south-southwest of Sagar Island (West Bengal).”
It is very likely 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 of October 24 and October 25 morning as a severe cyclonic storm.
Dana is expected to pack 110 kmph wind, gusting up to 120 kmph. at the time of the landfall. The storm will bring heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and tidal surges in vulnerable coastal areas.
Storm surge is likely to be 1.0 to 2.0 m height above astronomical tide in Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore districts and 0.5 to 1.0 m height in Jagatsingpur district at the time of landfall.
Gale with wind speed 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is already prevailing along and off north Odisha and is likely to continue till morning of October 25 and decrease gradually thereafter. Gale of wind speed reaching 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely along and off south Odisha till October 25 morning and decrease gradually thereafter.
The weather agency has also forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 21 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur Keonjhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, Khurda and Puri districts on October 24-25.
It has also issued wind warning for different districts of Odisha on these two days.
Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak and Balasore are in high-risk zones with wind velocity of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph. Mayurbhanj along with Jajapur and Cuttack is in the second category with wind speeds of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph.
Similarly, the districts of Puri, Khurda, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar may experience wind speed of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph while it will be 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph in Sundargarh district.
Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’: 40 Flights From Bhubaneswar Affected, Over 200 Trains Cancelled
In Bhubaneswar, wind speed may increase slowly and peak by tonight. “In the capital city, heavy rainfall is expected and wind speed will slowly increase and the highest wind speed is likely to occur tonight. The severe cyclonic storm is likely to re-curve slightly towards west and west-southwards after landfall, triggering rain in southern Odisha around October 26,” said Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre director Manorama Mohanty.
Authorities in both Odisha and West Bengal have evacuated lakhs of people, shut schools, cancelled more than 400 trains and suspended flight operations in view of the severe cyclonic storm. The East Coast Railway has diverted or short terminated or cancelled around 203 trains either originating or passing through Odisha. Services of 40 flights from Bhubaneswar, including one to Kuala Lumpur, have been affected.
“Approximately 3.5 lakh people have been relocated to over 4,700 relief centers. 385 rescue teams, including the NDRF, ODRAF, and local police, have been mobilized to aid in evacuation and road clearance efforts,” informed Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi twice on Thursday and enquired about the state’s preparedness for the impending cyclone.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has opened a control room and issued helpline number 1929 for city residents to assist them during Cyclone and help them in solving post Cyclone waterlogging issues. Dewatering pumps have been deployed to tackle water logging in low-lying areas of the city. Arrangements have also been made for post-cyclone restoration work.
The Odisha government has also released district helpline number.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that its satellites are monitoring the approaching cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ near the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, supplying real-time data to support disaster management efforts.
