The Indian Railways has confirmed that trains will continue to operate as scheduled in states impacted by Cyclone Dana, with only previously notified cancellations in effect. Trains coming from Visakhapatnam towards Bhubaneswar and Howrah will maintain regular schedules, as per the Railway Ministry’s update.
According to officials, trains traveling from Kharagpur towards Visakhapatnam will be received at Bhadrak Station starting at 2 PM, with the Howrah-Bangalore Duronto Express being the first expected train. Services originating from Bhubaneswar and Puri are set to commence after noon, barring cancelled services.
Following Cyclone Dana’s landfall on Odisha’s coast, rescue operations have begun in affected districts. Speaking on the relief efforts, NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahedi reported that while the cyclone completed its landfall around 8:30 AM, it is expected to weaken into a deep depression within the next six hours, with no major damage reported so far.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that Cyclone Dana is moving north-northwestward at a speed of 7 km/h, situated near Bhadrak in Odisha. The storm is expected to weaken gradually over the next few hours as it shifts westward.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged residents in impacted areas to prioritize safety and follow government instructions. In a Facebook post, he emphasized the importance of protecting lives and property and called on Congress members to aid in relief operations.
(With inputs from ANI)