Severe Cyclonic Storm Dana Makes Landfall Between Paradip & Bhitarkanika In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana commenced between Paradip and Bhitarkanika in Odisha around October 24 midnight and it is likely to continue till October 25 morning, India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed. 

“Landfall process has commenced and the forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land. The landfall process would continue till today, the October 25 morning. The system is under continuous surveillance of the Doppler Weather Radar at Paradip,” it posted on X.

It added that 18 UTC Oceansat suggested that the system was interacting with Odisha coast.

Earlier after a review meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi informed that Dana is expected to make landfall near Angula in Bhitarkanika of Kendrapada district around midnight. He added that all the necessary preparations to achieve zero casualties with evacuation of over 5.84 lakh people from low-lying areas of 11 coastal districts of Odisha and tackle the impact of the impending severe cyclonic storm had been completed.

The IMD further stated that the storm is about 50 km east-northeast of Paradip (Odisha), 40 km south-southeast of Dhamra (Odisha) and 160 km 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 next 3 to 4 hours as a severe cyclonic storm.”

During the landfall, a tidal surge of up to 2 metres is expected in Kendrapada, Balasore and Bhadrak districts, with the cyclone reaching the coast at a wind velocity of 120 kmph. A landfall process usually take 5 to 6 hours.

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 till October 25.

Observed weather