Odisha: The severe cyclonic storm named ‘Dana’ brewing over the Bay of Bengal is heading towards the Odisha coast and is likely to make landfall on Thursday morning with a wind speed of 120 km per hour.
A “Low Pressure Area” over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. The “cyclonic disturbance” may affect the Odisha-West Bengal coasts.
“The Low Pressure Area over the East-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea movedwest-nortwestwards. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by 22nd October morning and into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October, 2024 over eastcentral Bay of Bengal” the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
The Weather agency said, “Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay ofBengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning.
Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and SagarIsland during night of 24th and early morning 25thOctober, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph”
IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the system is likely to take the shape of a severe cyclonic storm. He said parts of Odisha are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall from October 23 onwards.
“Under its influence, Odisha is likely to experience rainfall activities from October 23 to 25. Odisha will experience maximum rainfall on October 24,” Mohapatra added.
With the issue of the track of severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ by IMD and with all likelihood of it making a landfall in Odisha coast, the state government has geared up for massive evacuation of people living in low lying areas of coastal districts.
Cyclone shelters are being kept in readiness, while provision of drinking water and lighting arrangements during cyclone are being done. Senior IAS officers have been asked to leave for possible affected districts to monitor relief and rescue operations, while a round the clock control room has been opened at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office at Bhubaneswar.
Teams of NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Services will move towards coastal districts this evening for relief and rescue operations. Fishermen have been asked to return from sea by tomorrow.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister of Odisha, Suresh Pujari, has urged the people to be alert but need not panic. The IMD has predicted very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in most of the coastal districts and some parts of interior Odisha from Wednesday to Friday.