Landfall Process Of Cyclone Dana Along Odisha Coast Continued For Over 8 Hours; Check IMD Update

Bhubaneswar: The landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana, which began along Odisha coast shortly after midnight, continued for more than 8 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Friday.

The maximum sustained wind speed around the centre of the cyclone was about 80 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.

Dana has now weakened into a cyclonic storm.

The cyclonic storm moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph and lay centred at 9.30 am over north coastal Odisha, about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra. It is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a deep depression during the next 6 hours, the weather agency said in its hourly bulletin.

Earlier in a bulletin, the IMD had informed that landfall process continued and the rear sector of the cyclone was entering into land. “The landfall process would continue for next 1-2 hours. It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm by forenoon.”

Later it stated that the landfall process was completed at 8.30 am with the storm about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the system will gradually weaken on Friday and move deeper in the state, triggering heavy rains at most places.

Heavy rains and strong winds were witnessed in Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Balasore during the landfall.

Though there was no major damage, trees were uprooted in these districts. “Uprooting of trees was reported in places such as Rajnagar, Pattamundai, Dhamara and Basudevpur. Fire personnel are cutting the damaged trees and branches to clear the roads at the earliest,” said Fire Services DG Sudhanshu Sarangi.

The state government had evacuated 5.84 lakh people to cyclone shelters to ensure their safety.