Cyclone Dana explained: Meaning of ‘Dana’, who gave the name? List of trains cancelled
Cyclone Dana: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the preparedness on Thursday.
Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between Odisha's Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island on the night of Thursday (October 24-25). Dana, which will turn into a cyclonic storm on Thursday, is likely to cause heavy rainfall and windstorms in Odisha till October 25.
The cyclone will cross Odisha and Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph.
The Odisha authorities have announced the closure of schools, and educational institutes till October 24. Tourists and pilgrims have also been asked to avoid travelling to Puri till the time while fishermen have been advised not to venture around the beaches.
Cyclone Dana live updates: Landfall in Odisha, West Bengal to commence tonight; evacuation underway
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Odisha is likely to witness heavy rainfall till Oct 24. Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the preparedness.
Cyclone Dana: What does 'Dana' mean?
Dana is an Arabic word that means 'generosity.' The name ‘Dana’ or ‘Danah’ holds cultural significance in Arabic culture, signifying ‘the most perfectly sized, valuable, and beautiful pearl.’
It is commonly found in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, known for its rich history of pearl diving.
Which country named Cyclone Dana?
According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dana's name was suggested by Qatar.
READ | Cyclone Dana tracker: Over 1 million evacuated. Civil services exam postponed. How Odisha bracing for storm landfall
The WMO says that assigning names to tropical cyclones makes tracking and discussing specific storms more “straightforward, especially when multiple storms are active simultaneously.”
Cyclone Dana: Evacuation and relief operation
At least 1.1 million people will be evacuated from Odisha to storm shelters inland, hours before a powerful cyclone is expected to hammer the low-lying region, ministers said Thursday, AFP reported.
The Odisha government is facilitating the evacuation drives from 3,000 villages in 14 districts to relief camps, an official statement said.
READ | Around 1,30,000 people evacuated in Bengal ahead of cyclone Dana landfall
Teams from the NDRF in both Odisha and West Bengal have been placed on standby. Additionally, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are on high alert.
Cyclone Dana: List of trains cancelled
More than 300 trains have been canceled by the Indian Railways due to Cyclone Dana. The trains canceled include Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, Kamakhya-Yesvantpur AC Express, Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Shatabdi Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur Express.
Schools shut in wake of Cyclone Dana
All schools and education institutes have been closed in Odisha and West Bengal till October 26 in the wake of Cyclone Dana. Schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will remain closed in 14 districts of Odisha from October 23-25.
Cyclone Dana: Civil services exam postponed
The Odisha Public Service Commission(OPSC) has postponed the Odisha Civil Services Preliminary Examination – 2023-24, which is scheduled to be held on October 27. As per the official notice published by the Commission, the revised date for the exam will be notified after a week.