Fishermen shift their boats in preparation for Cyclone Dana in Puri.

Cyclone Dana landfall on Thursday night, will bring winds up to 110 kmph

Residents of Odisha and West Bengal have been warned of heavy rainfall, high winds, and storm surges associated with the cyclone. Fishermen are advised to refrain from venturing into the sea due to hazardous conditions.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Landfall expected between Puri & Sagar Island on 24th-25th Oct.
  • Red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall issued
  • NDRF teams deployed, schools ordered shut in several Odisha districts

The Bay of Bengal, a region often prone to cyclonic disturbances, is currently witnessing another bout of intense weather activity. A depression that has formed in the east-central Bay of Bengal is predicted to move west-northwestwards, with meteorological projections indicating its intensification into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October 2024.

Expected wind speeds upon landfall, which is projected between Puri and Sagar Island on the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, could reach 100 to 110 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 120 km/h.

The cyclonic storm, Dana, is likely to make landfall during the night of October 24 into the morning of October 25.

In response to the impending threat, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is closely monitoring the system. Authorities in both Odisha and West Bengal are on high alert and are implementing precautionary measures, including potential evacuations in coastal areas.

Residents have been warned of heavy rainfall, high winds, and storm surges associated with the cyclone. Fishermen are advised to refrain from venturing into the sea due to hazardous conditions.

A total of 11 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Odisha and nine teams were deployed in West Bengal ahead of the cyclone.

The weather body has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur districts in Odisha for Thursday.

It has predicted heavy rain for Purba and Paschim Medinipur and North and South 24 Parganas districts in West Bengal on Wednesday.

Schools will remain closed in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khordha, Nayagarh and Cuttack.