Cyclone Dana nears Odisha: Lakhs evacuated as rescue ops continue, schools shut

Cyclone Dana News: Normal life was affected in both Odisha and West Bengal with lakhs of people being shifted to relief camps in view of cyclone Dana that barrelled toward Bhubaneswar, threatening to impact nearly half of the coastal state's population.

In Short

• Odisha targets evacuation of 10 lakh before cyclone Dana makes landfall
• Cyclone Dana to hit between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra in Odisha
• Kolkata, Bhubaneswar airports to suspend operations until Friday morning

Over 3.5 lakh people were evacuated in Odisha and around 2.4 lakh in West Bengal on Thursday as they braced for severe cyclonic storm Dana, which is expected to make landfall in Odisha past midnight at a speed of 120kmph. Heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and turbulent sea conditions were reported in both the states as authorities raced against time to shift people to relief centres.

According to the India Meterological Department (IMD), cyclone Dana, which has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds likely to reach up to 120 kmph, is threatening to impact nearly half of Odisha's population, with Bengal expected to witness extremely heavy to very heavy rain today and tomorrow.

As per IMD's latest bulletin at 5.30 pm, 'Dana' moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred about 90 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 110 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 210 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal).

The landfall is expected to take place between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, both in Odisha.

On Thursday and Friday, Bengal's districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly, will receive extremely heavy to very heavy rain.

Flight operations at Kolkata airport was suspended from 6 pm on Thursday to 9 am on Friday, while Bhubaneswar airport has also been shut from 5 pm today until 9 am on Friday. Over 400 trains have been cancelled running through the two neighbouring states in the wake of the cyclone.

Here are the latest developments:

1. Indian Navy is preparing to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Odisha and Bengal in the wake of the cyclone. As part of this assistance, essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency relief materials, have been deployed by road to key locations in the areas that are likely to be affected. In addition, flood relief and diving teams are being mobilised to assist in coordinated operations if required.

2. Addressing a press conference on Thursday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the rescue teams have shifted as many as 2,43,374 people from affected areas to relief camps. She also said that she would stay at state secretariat Nabanna tonight till the time of landfall.

   "We are actively working to evacuate those affected, with 3,51,941 individuals identified for relocation. Currently, 2,43,374 people are being sheltered in 851 relief camps, which are fully operational. Additionally, a 24x7 helpline has been established to assist and provide information," she said.

3. The Odisha state government has categorised Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts as high-risk zones; Mayurbhanj under category two where wind speeds would be at 80-90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph; Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Jajpur come under category three where wind speeds would be at 60-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.

   The districts of Puri, Khurda (comprising Bhubaneswar), Dhenkanal and Keonjhar come under category four where wind speeds will be at 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph.

4. Claiming that the state was well-prepared at the ground level to face the eventuality, Odisha's Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said as many as 3.50 lakh people have so far been evacuated to safety and houses in 4,756 relief centres where they are provided with food and other materials. He said as many as 2,131 villages spread over 11 different districts would be affected by the cyclone.
5. From Wednesday to Friday, the East Coast Railway has cancelled 198 trains in view of the cyclone. The Eastern Railway also announced that it will not operate 190 local trains in Bengal's Sealdah division from 8 pm Thursday till 10 am Friday. The South Eastern Railway has cancelled over 150 trains passing through or originating from Odisha.
6. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been placed on standby in both Odisha and West Bengal. Additional rescue personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, Navy and the Army have also been deployed.

7. In West Bengal, the administration identified over 3.5 lakh people to be evacuated from low-lying areas, with 2,43,374 being shifted to relief camps. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has urged people not to spread rumours and create panic in this connection.

   Additionally, a 24X7 helpline (2214-3526) and some associated phone numbers have been made functional for monitoring and sharing information. "I seek your cooperation. Be alert. If the police or the administration ask you to evacuate a place, please pay heed to their advice. Do not venture into the waters. Fishing is prohibited now," Banerjee said.

8. Ferry services in the Sunderbans area spread over West Bengal's North and South 24 Parganas districts and also across the Hooghly river in Kolkata and adjoining areas will remain cancelled.
9. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until Friday, with wind speeds likely to reach 60 kmph along the Odisha-West Bengal coastline, increasing to 120 kmph during landfall.
10. The NDRF has deployed a total of 56 teams in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in view of cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall. There are 20 teams in Odisha, out of which one is in reserve, while of the 17 in West Bengal, 13 are in reserve.