Cyclone Dana highlights: Landfall on Odisha to continue into early hours of Friday

Officials in Odisha said there was no report of any major damage or casualty even as the cyclone began landfall hours ago.

The coastal districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore and nearby Jagatsinghpur district witnessed sudden increase in wind speed which reached 100 kmph to 110 kmph and extremely heavy rain. A revenue department official said reports of trees getting uprooted were also received at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner here. (PTI)

The districts, which are likely to witness flash floods, include Angul, Balasore, Boudh, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh and Puri, the IMD said.

It also forecast inundation in low-lying areas in Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak districts due to a tidal surge of 1 metre to 2 metres during the landfall of the severe cyclone Dana.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the region where the landfall commenced would witness high velocity wind at the speed of about 120 km/h till Friday morning. He said the landfall also accelerated the tidal surge, which could go up to two metres above the astronomical height, in Kendrapada, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. The landfall process of cyclone usually takes five to six hours, he said.

Mohapatra said that the system will continue to remain as the severe cyclonic storm will gradually weaken on Friday and move deeper in the state, triggering heavy rains in most places.

With the IMD forecasting flash floods in 16 districts due to cyclone-induced heavy rainfall in Odisha, chief minister Mohan Charan Maji on Thursday said his government was well-prepared to tackle any situation and took adequate measures to mitigate potential impacts.

“We are well-prepared to face the situation. The water level in Hirakud reservoir and other places are being constantly monitored and managed,” the chief minister said.

“It is very likely to move north-north westwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during next 3 to 4 hours as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km/h, gusting 120 km/h,” said the IMD in a post on X.

“Landfall process has commenced, and the forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land. the landfall process would continue till today, the 25th October morning,” the agency added.

Cyclone Dana live updates: Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the government has assessed disaster preparedness of all districts in the state.

"More than 6 lakh people have been evacuated and moved to cyclone shelters where cooked food is being provided... Electricity has been switched off, telecommunications have also been shut down till tomorrow... Several senior officers and ministers have been deployed by the Chief Minister... All arrangements have been made to deal with the situation," said Ahuja while speaking to ANI.

Cyclone Dana live updates: The IMD announced the landfall of cyclone Dana on Odisha's coast.

“Landfall process has commenced. It lays near latitude 20.5° N and longitude 87.1°E, about 50 km east-northeast of Paradip (Odisha), 40 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 160 km southwest of Sagar Island (West Bengal). It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during next 3 to 4 hours as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph. Landfall process has commenced and the forward sector of the wall cloud region is entering into land. The landfall process would continue till today, the 25th October morning,” the weather agency said in a post on X.

"The severe cyclonic storm “Dana” (pronounced as dana) over northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-north westwards with a speed of 13 km/h during past 3 hours and lay centred at 22.30 hrs IST of today, the 24th October, over the same region, near latitude 20.30° N and longitude 87.20° E, about 50 km east of Paradip (Odisha), 60 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 170 km south-south west of Sagar Island (West Bengal)," said the Indian Meteorological Department in a post on X.

Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state's preparedness ahead of cyclone Dana's landfall.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Majhi twice on Thursday and enquired about the state's preparedness. During their conversation, the Chief Minister provided detailed information about the ongoing relocation of people and the deployment of response forces such as the NDRF and ODRAF for public safety, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee monitored the situation in the state ahead of cyclone Dana's landfall.

Earlier in the day, CM Mamata Banerjee said that she would be monitoring the situation. "I will be staying in Nabanna tonight till the time of landfall (of cyclone 'Dana')," said Mamata Banerjee.

Thousands of people have been evacuated and shifted to relief camps by the West Bengal government in the wake of Cyclone Dana.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) announced that it has implemented extensive safety measures to protect ports, vessels, and personnel in light of cyclone Dana's landfall.

Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur chaired a comprehensive review meeting to evaluate the readiness of the Ministry, the Directorate General of Shipping, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Thakur praised the proactive measures taken by the relevant agencies and urged them to remain vigilant in monitoring the situation as the cyclone strengthens, according to an official statement.

Currently situated over the East-central Bay of Bengal, the cyclone is expected to intensify and make landfall between Odisha and West Bengal on the night of October 24, with wind speeds reaching 100-110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that its satellites are monitoring the approaching cyclonic storm 'Dana' near the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, supplying real-time data to support disaster management efforts.

ISRO stated that the polar-orbiting satellite EOS-06 and the geostationary satellite INSAT-3DR consistently provide critical information about the cyclone's status.

EOS-06 has detected ocean wind patterns, facilitating early detection and offering valuable lead time for implementing safety measures. Meanwhile, INSAT-3DR continuously supplies real-time cloud data, enabling authorities to make informed decisions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday discussed preparations for dealing with cyclone 'Dana' with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over the phone.

Authorities in Odisha and West Bengal evacuated lakhs of people, shut schools, cancelled more than 400 trains and suspended flight operations as they braced for severe cyclonic storm Dana, which is expected to make landfall in Odisha past midnight at a speed of 120kmph.

Cyclone Dana live updates: Parts of Jharkhand could experience heavy to very heavy rainfall from Thursday night under the influence of cyclonic storm Dana, a Met Department official has said.

An 'orange' alert has been issued for the Kolhan region (West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts) for Friday, he added.

Cyclone Dana live updates: As the landfall time for cyclonic storm Dana approaches, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Deoranjan Singh addressed the relief efforts on Thursday, stating that “everything is under control as of now.”

He said, “Officials are monitoring the situation at various locations. Tonight is crucial, and we will reassess the situation tomorrow morning after the cyclone makes landfall.”

IMD Director Manorama Mohanty provided an update on cyclone 'Dana,' saying that the storm is expected to move north-northwestward and cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coast between Puri and Sagar Island, near Bhitarkanika, between midnight tonight and the morning of 25th October as a severe cyclonic storm.

Wind speeds are predicted to reach 100-110 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h. A red alert has been issued for the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, and Jajpur.

Cyclone Dana live updates: Flight operations in Bhubaneswar were temporarily suspended from 5.00 pm today until 9.00 am on October 25, due to the impending landfall of Cyclonic Storm 'Dana.'

Kolkata Airport has also announced a similar suspension of flights, halting operations for 15 hours starting at 6.00 pm on Thursday.

Kolkata Airport Director Pravat Ranjan Beuria confirmed that all entry and exit doors of the terminal will be sealed once the last flight departs, and aircraft parked at the bays will be securely tied down.

These measures are being taken to ensure the safety of passengers and airport infrastructure during the storm.

Residents of Kendrapara district in Odisha are rushing to relief camps in response to the authorities' urgent appeals, as the landfall of cyclone Dana approaches, PTI reported citing an official.

Since Thursday morning, intermittent rain and strong winds have affected seaside villages as the storm looms over the coastal areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts.

The shelter centers are stocked with essential supplies such as food, drinking water, baby items, and women police officers for added safety. An official also reported that trees have been uprooted in several locations.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday that the administration has identified over 3.5 lakh people for evacuation from low-lying areas due to the impending cyclone Dana, PTI reported.

She urged residents to take precautionary measures and cooperate with both the administration and police. Currently, 2,43,374 people have sought refuge in shelters.

Banerjee also stated that she would remain at the state secretariat throughout Thursday night to oversee the situation personally.

“For evacuation from low-lying areas, we have identified 3,56,941 people,” she informed reporters at the secretariat. Additionally, the chief secretary and home secretary will monitor developments from their homes and plan to rejoin her on Friday morning.

Cyclone Dana live updates: Normal life in Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital, was disrupted on Thursday as many residents chose to stay indoors as Cyclone Dana approached the coastal region, potentially affecting nearly half the population.

- Vehicular movement was noticeably low in the city, with few people seen at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal, airport, and railway station.

- A limited number of passengers were observed at the busy Bhubaneswar railway station, where the East Coast Railway (ECoR) had cancelled 203 trains, leading some tourists to seek shelter there.

- Authorities at Bhubaneswar Airport announced a suspension of flight operations from 5 PM on October 24 to 9 AM on October 25 due to the cyclone. The cyclone affected about 40 domestic and international flights and disrupted many travel plans.

- The state government ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Bhubaneswar from October 23 to 25.

- While government offices, banks, shops, malls, and commercial establishments remained open, the number of visitors was significantly lower than usual.

- The state-run Capital Hospital reported "very minimal footfall" during the day, according to a health facility official.

The West Bengal government announced on Thursday that it has evacuated over one lakh people and shifted more than 80,000 to relief camps in preparation for the expected landfall early Friday.

"In view of Cyclone 'Dana', the West Bengal government has evacuated 159,837 people and shifted 83,537 people to relief camps so far," the government's statement said.

Cyclone Dana live updates: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Thursday that she will remain in Nabanna, the temporary state secretariat in Howrah, until the landfall of Cyclone Dana.

“I will be staying in Nabanna tonight until the time of landfall (of cyclone 'Dana'),” Mamata Banerjee stated.

In anticipation of Cyclone Dana's impact on the coastal areas of West Bengal, including Kolkata, authorities have decided to suspend flight operations from 6 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to expected strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that the cyclone is expected to make a landfall early Friday between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in neighboring Odisha, with wind speeds potentially reaching up to 120 km/h during the landfall process.

As the time for suspending flight operations nears due to Cyclone Dana, Kolkata airport authorities have begun making arrangements to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft, and the facility's infrastructure.

Flight operations at the airport will be halted for 15 hours starting at 6 pm on Thursday.

According to Airport Director Pravat Ranjan Beuria, all entry and exit doors of the terminal building will be sealed after the last flight departs, and aircraft parked on the bays will be secured.

Cyclone Dana live updates: Odisha deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said on Thursday that the “government is fully prepared,” with all relevant departments and staff ready to handle any situation arising from the landfall of severe cyclonic storm Dana.

Speaking to ANI in Bhubaneswar, Deo said, "The Government is prepared. All concerned departments are in position, and all officers and workers of the various departments are in place and ready to tackle any eventuality."

He added, “Every department of the Government, including the Chief Minister, Urban Minister, Revenue Minister, everybody is seized of the situation, and we are taking whatever necessary steps that need to be taken at the ground level. Rather than creating a fear psychosis amongst the people, we should be more proactive and give justice to the people.”