As Cyclone ‘Dana’ approaches the Odisha coast, threatening nearly half of the state’s population, the government is urgently working to implement a large-scale evacuation plan to relocate around 1 million people across 14 districts to safer areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday that the cyclone is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, located approximately 70 km away, early on Friday.
The IMD added that the landfall process will begin on the night of October 24 and continue through the morning of October 25, with maximum wind speeds likely reaching 120 km/h during this period, according to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
He explained that the landfall is typically a slow process, taking around 5-6 hours, during which heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges will intensify, particularly between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25. “Therefore, heavy rainfall, wind and storm surge will reach the peak during the landfall time which is between October 24 night and October 25 morning,” he added.
As per the latest IMD update, the cyclone was moving northwest at a speed of 13 km/h and was located about 490 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 520 km south-southeast of Dhamra (Odisha), and 570 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal).
Umashankar Das, a senior scientist at the regional meteorological center in Bhubaneswar, warned of a potential tidal surge of up to 2 meters during landfall, with winds reaching 120 km/h. He also cautioned that low-lying areas in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts could be inundated, recommending that the government evacuate residents from these vulnerable regions.
Mangrove forest likely to reduce cyclone’s impact
The mangrove forest covering nearly 200 square kilometers in Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, is expected to lessen the impact of Cyclone Dana if it makes landfall in the area, a senior forest officer stated on Wednesday. “It is a matter of relief for Odisha as the cyclone is likely to hit the coast at Bhitarkanika where we have a mangrove forest area spanning over nearly 200 sq km,” Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Susanta Nanda told local media.
The mangrove forest will help protect nearby coastal areas from tidal surges and decrease wind velocity, he explained. The forest department has assembled five teams to clear fallen trees from roads and two additional teams to rescue any crocodiles that may venture into nearby habitats after the cyclone. “Besides, we have issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by our forest divisions during the cyclone,” he stated.
Rescue teams deployed, mass evacuations underway
To manage the impact of Cyclone Dana, 288 rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services have been deployed, with more personnel requested from the NDRF. The government has identified 14 districts at risk, including coastal areas facing high winds and inland regions expected to see heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. The affected districts include Angul, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, and Mayurbhanj.
“Over 3,000 vulnerable villages have been identified, and around 10.6 lakh people are set to be evacuated before Cyclone Dana’s landfall,” said state revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari. Additionally, the state has established 6,000 relief camps where evacuees will receive cooked meals, milk for children, medical care, safe drinking water, and security for women.
IMD warns of heavy rainfall as cyclonic storm approaches
The IMD has warned that Cyclone ‘Dana’ will bring substantial rainfall to Odisha, with light to moderate rain expected in most areas and heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) in isolated regions of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, and Khordha starting the evening of October 23. On October 24 and 25, widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast, with extremely heavy downpours (over 21 cm) in districts like Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur.
The IMD has banned all marine activities, including fishing, in the Bay of Bengal until the cyclone passes. “All fishermen returned to the coast by Tuesday evening,” stated Minister Suresh Pujari. The Met department has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy downpours expected in isolated areas of South Bengal. Affected districts include North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly on October 24 and 25.
Wild animals in Bhitarkanika National Park prepared for cyclone
When questioned about measures for protecting the wild animals at Bhitarkanika National Park, Nanda stated that the animals are well-adapted to cyclones. The deer will seek safety in the deeper parts of the forest, while birds are expected to relocate to other areas. He mentioned that crocodiles may venture into nearby habitats during high tidal surges, prompting the formation of two teams dedicated to rescuing any distressed crocodiles.
Nandankanan Zoo, Botanical Garden closed
Nandankanan Zoo and the State Botanical Garden will remain closed for visitors on October 24 and 25 due to the approaching Cyclone Dana. Previously, Similipal Tiger Reserve and Bhitarkanika National Park were closed to tourists from October 23 to 25. Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik has urged the public to provide shelter to stray animals, including dogs and oxen, during the cyclone. For assistance with injured animals, people can contact the helpline at 1962.
Express and passenger train services disrupted
On Tuesday, South Eastern Railway announced the cancellation of over 150 express and passenger trains operating within its jurisdiction and scheduled to depart between October 23 and 25 due to the impending cyclone. Similarly, East Coast Railways also cancelled 198 trains that were either passing through or originating from Odisha. More cancellations may occur if the situation worsens, as the SER zone covers West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
190 local train services cancelled
Additionally, the Eastern Railway will suspend all EMU local train services from Sealdah station from 8 PM on October 24 until 10 AM on October 25 for safety reasons. The last trains from Hasnabad and Namkhana stations, located near the coastal areas of North and South 24 Parganas, will leave for Sealdah by 7 PM on October 24. “From 8 pm onwards on October 24, no local train will start from Sealdah station to ensure that no train is on the tracks during the time when the cyclone is apprehended to make landfall,” the ER official said.
Kolkata airport to suspend flights operations
Kolkata airport authorities have announced a 15-hour suspension of flight operations starting at 6 PM on Thursday due to the potential impact of Cyclone Dana, according to an official. This decision was made to ensure the safety of passengers, airline staff, equipment, navigational aids, and infrastructure, as stated by an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official on Wednesday. “In view of Cyclone Dana’s impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, it has been decided to suspend the flight operations from 6 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall at Kolkata,” an AAI spokesperson said.
Odisha civil service exam postponed
The Odisha Civil Service preliminary examination, 2023, has been postponed due to the impending Cyclone Dana, which is expected to hit the Odisha coast by October 25. The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) announced that the exam, originally scheduled for October 27, has been postponed. A new date will be announced after seven days. Candidates are advised to regularly check the OPSC’s official website for updates.