Cyclone Dana to make landfall soon: Lakhs evacuated in Odisha, West Bengal; telcos activate intra-circle roaming – Latest updates here

Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall in the early hours of October 25, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. In anticipation of the storm’s impact, the governments of Odisha and West Bengal have initiated large-scale evacuations and announced the closure of educational institutions in vulnerable areas.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has confirmed that over 30% of the targeted 10 lakh people have already been evacuated to safer locations by Wednesday evening. The cyclone, expected to make landfall near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra along Odisha’s coast, poses a significant risk to nearly half of the state’s population.

Majhi emphasised the severity of the situation, particularly for three districts that are likely to be most affected. “The remaining evacuations will be completed by 11 AM on Thursday,” he assured, following a review of the state’s preparedness. The government’s target is to evacuate 10,60,336 people across 14 districts, with a focus on the coastal belt.

Those evacuated have been relocated to cyclone shelters where dry and cooked food, as well as other essentials, are being provided.

Suspension of flight operations in Kolkata

In light of the storm’s intensity, authorities at Kolkata airport have decided to suspend all flight operations from 6 PM on Thursday for 15 hours, resuming at 9 AM on Friday. This precautionary measure aims to ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and infrastructure, as Cyclone Dana approaches.

Telecom preparedness in Odisha

To maintain communication during the cyclone, telecom companies in Odisha have implemented intra-circle roaming services in seven districts under the ‘red-warning’ zone: Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, and Cuttack. This allows uninterrupted connectivity across all major telecom operators—BSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone.

Odisha’s Electronic and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling confirmed that this roaming service went live at 8 AM on Wednesday, ensuring that essential communication channels remain open.

Prime Minister Modi reviews preparedness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Odisha Chief Minister Majhi to assess the state’s preparedness for Cyclone Dana. The storm is expected to make landfall in Odisha with wind speeds reaching 120 km/h.

Mass evacuations, the closure of schools, and suspension of flights and trains are part of the extensive precautionary measures being taken by authorities in both Odisha and West Bengal. Over 400 trains have been cancelled, diverted, or terminated early to ensure public safety.

West Bengal’s evacuation efforts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced plans to evacuate over 3.5 lakh people from vulnerable areas in anticipation of Cyclone Dana’s impact. As of Thursday, 2,43,374 individuals have already been moved to safer locations.

Banerjee assured the public that the state administration is fully prepared to manage the crisis, with additional evacuations underway. “We have identified 3,56,941 people for evacuation from low-lying areas,” she said.

The Chief Minister will remain at the state secretariat overnight to personally oversee the situation, while senior officials continue to monitor developments remotely.

Bhubaneswar airport disruptions

Authorities at Bhubaneswar Airport have suspended flight operations from 5 PM on October 24 until 9 AM on October 25, affecting around 40 domestic and international flights. This step was taken to prioritise passenger safety during the cyclone’s anticipated impact.

Railway operations affected

In response to the cyclone, the East Coast Railway has taken preventive measures by cancelling, diverting, or short-terminating around 203 trains. The railway’s General Manager, Parmeshwar Funkwal, assured the public that Emergency Response Teams are stationed and that ‘War rooms’ have been activated to coordinate safety efforts.

As Cyclone Dana continues to approach, the governments of Odisha and West Bengal, along with national authorities, are working tirelessly to ensure public safety through comprehensive evacuation plans and precautionary actions.