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.
It crossed North Odisha coast close to Habalikhati Nature Camp and Dhamra during 1.30-3.30 am with a wind speed of 100-120 kmph. The maximum sustained wind speed around the centre of the cyclone was about 80 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph. “The landfall process continued and the rear sector of the cyclone was entering into land. It would continue for next 1-2 hours.”
It was completed at 8.30 am with the storm about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra.
Dana later weakened into a cyclonic storm and was over north coastal Odisha, about 30 km northeast of Bhadrak and 50 km north-northwest of Dhamra at 9.30 am. “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.
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.
