Odisha and West Bengal are on high alert regarding cyclone ‘Dana’. There was heavy rain and stormy winds in the coastal areas of Odisha on Thursday morning. The situation along the sea shore in Odisha is already looking dire. High waves are rising and strong winds are blowing, because ‘Dana’ has reached very close to the coast. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ is likely to reach Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha and Dhamra port in Bhadrak district on Friday morning. During this period the wind speed can be up to 120 kilometers per hour.
Let us tell you that this cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ formed over the Bay of Bengal is bringing danger with itself. While Odisha and West Bengal are on high alert, three other states Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also been put on alert. People around the sea area are being evacuated to safe places. 56 teams of NDRF have been deployed at various places. It is being told that Dana has moved towards north-west at a speed of 12 km per hour during the last six hours.
Meteorological Department issued bulletin
The weather department is also keeping an eye on ‘Dana’. Regarding this, the department has issued a bulletin, in which it has been told that as the cyclonic storm Dana will move towards the north-west, from the midnight of October 24 to the morning of October 25, it will hit the coast of North Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island. There is a possibility of crossing. During this time the wind speed can be 100-110 km per hour.
Trees being uprooted by the sound of ‘Dana’
Manorama Mohanty, Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said that cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ is likely to move towards west and west-south, which may cause rain in southern Odisha around October 26. However, there is no possibility of landslides and any change in the forecast of wind speed. At the same time, trees have been uprooted just by the sound of ‘Dana’. Roads have been blocked in some areas of Balasore, Bhadrak, Bhitarkanika and Puri, disrupting traffic.
56 NDRF teams deployed in 5 states
NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in five states including Odisha and West Bengal in view of cyclone ‘Dana’. Odisha has 20 teams deployed, of which one is in reserve, while West Bengal has 13 out of 17 in reserve. Apart from NDRF, SDRF team of the concerned state is deployed in these areas. NDRF has deployed nine teams each in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, while one team in Chhattisgarh, because after the arrival of the cyclone, heavy rains and flood situation may arise in these states.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it is on high alert and has deployed ships and aircraft to respond quickly to any contingency on the Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile, NDRF said that it has deployed several teams in South Bengal to deal with any emergency.
Airport closed for 16 hours due to ‘Dana’
In view of the increasing progress of Dana, flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will be suspended for 16 hours from Thursday i.e. this evening. In the statement issued, it has been said that due to cyclonic storm Dana, the operation of the airport will remain suspended from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25. Officials said that more than 100 flights are operated daily at Bhubaneswar airport, in which about 15 thousand people travel.
190 local trains were canceled
In view of Dana, Eastern Railway will not operate 190 local trains in its Sealdah division from 8 pm on Thursday to 10 am on Friday. South Eastern Railway had announced on Tuesday that in view of the cyclone, more than 150 express and passenger trains running through its region have been cancelled. Eastern Railway had also canceled about 198 trains passing through its area on Tuesday itself.