Bhubaneswar: With cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ inching towards Odisha, Odisha State Museum, Odisha State Archives and Harekrushna Mahatab State Library will remain closed for the public on October 24-25, a government release said on Wednesday.
Additionally, all universities, colleges and schools under the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture will also be closed on these two days. “Furthermore, all the mandap such as Rabindra Mandap, Utkal Mandap and Bhanjakala Mandap will remain closed during this period due to the possible cyclonic situation as per the decision made by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department,” it added.
The government has already announced holiday for all schools under Mass and School Education Department and colleges and universities under Higher Education Department in 14 districts – Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack districts- till October 25 as a precautionary measure. The annual terracotta exhibition ‘Mruttika-2024’ has been rescheduled to October 25.
Nandankanan Zoological Park, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, will also remain out of bounds for visitors on October 24 and 25.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone ‘Dana’ over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 14.30 hrs, over the Eastcentral & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal, about 460 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 490 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 540 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal). It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over Northwest Bay of Bengal by early morning of October 24 and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, a stretch of about 70 km, during night of October 24 and October 25 morning with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
Also Read: Cyclone ‘Dana’: Rain, Wind & Storm Surge To Peak On Oct 24 Night In Odisha, Says IMD DG
In Bhubaneswar city and nearby areas, the wind speed may be in the range of 45 to 60 kmph during the landfall of the severe cyclonic storm on October 24-25. Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) may also lash the city on October 24. The intensity of rain may slightly drop the following day.