The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the formation of a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal, crossing North Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar island on Thursday, October 24.
In its latest press release, IMD stated that yesterday’s deep depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 18 kmph during the past 6 hours intensified into a cyclonic storm 'DANA' and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, over the same region about 560 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 630 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal) and 630 km south-southeast of Khepupara (Bangladesh).
It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal by the early morning of October 24th and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of October 24th to morning of October 25th as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.
Cyclone Dana is set to make landfall along the Odisha-West Bengal coast between Puri and Sagar Island on the night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.
Cyclone Dana, is a name proposed by Qatar, in line with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) guidelines on naming cyclones. It means "generosity" in Arabic. The name is part of the new list of tropical cyclone names adopted by WMO/ESCAP Panel member countries in April 2020 for the naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. It will be the first cyclone to hit the Indian coast after the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon and the simultaneous arrival of the Northeast Monsoon.
The above map (from windy.com) shows the current location of Cyclone Dana and the possible route it will follow for the next 2-3 days.
In view of Cyclone Dana's imminent arrival, all schools, colleges, universities and Anganwadi centers in the following districts of Odisha will be closed for three days from October 23 to 25.
List of districts: Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Anugol, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack.
The Met Department has issued a red alert for many places in Odisha on possibility of extremely heavy rainfall from October 23 to 25.
Light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places with heavy rainfall (up to 7-11 cm) at isolated places is very likely over Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur, Puri and Khorda, districts of Odisha on October 23.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 21 cm) at isolated places is very likely over Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur, Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, Khorda and Puri districts of Odisha on October 24 and 25.
Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely on October 23 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over South & North 24 Parganas, East & West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and Bankura districts of Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it is on high alert and has mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency over the Bay of Bengal. As per PTI, ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergency situations. The NDRF said it has deployed 13 teams so far across south Bengal to respond to any emergency situation.
Cyclone Dana, is a name proposed by Qatar, in line with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) guidelines on naming cyclones. It means "generosity" in Arabic. The name is part of the new list of tropical cyclone names adopted by WMO/ESCAP Panel member countries in April 2020 for the naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
Chief Minister Sri Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the following Ministers to supervise cyclone management in districts that might be affected by cyclone Dana.
1. Jagatsinghapur: Industry, Sri Sampad Chandra Swain
2. Balasore: PR&DW and RD, Sri Rabi Nayak
3. Bhadrak: Sports & HE, Sri Suraj Suryavamsi
4. Mayurbhanj: H&UD, Dr K C Mahapatra
5. Puri: Deputy CM, Smt. Pravati Parida
6. Kendrapada: Deputy CM, Sri K V Singhdeo
7. Ganjam: Com & Transport, Sri Bibhuti Bhusan Jena
8. Keonjhar: Food & Civil Supplies, Sri K C Patra
9. Cuttack: Works, Law, Sri Prithviraj Harichandan
The regional met centre of Bhubaneswar has issued a yellow alert for following places with the possibility of heavy rainfall from morning of October 23 up to morning of October 24.
Heavy rainfall (up to 7 to 11cm) is very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Balasore, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Puri.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall (up to 7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) is very likely to occur in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Jajpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur.
The state government has already mobilised 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 51 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, and 178 Fire Services teams, with an additional 40 teams also deployed in the affected districts. Odisha government expedited the evacuation of people from coastal areas and deployed 288 rescue teams in vulnerable areas across 14 districts, officials said - as per PTI.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the state administration was ready to respond to any disaster that could occur due to an impending cyclone. She said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF have already been deployed, and integrated control rooms, at both state and district levels, become functional 24X7.
The chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee said that educational institutes, schools, colleges and ICDS centres North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata from Wednesday to October 26.
The Forest Department has announced that the Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) will remain closed to visitors and tourists from October 23 to October 25. The date of reopening will be decided keeping in view the prevailing situation in the areas.
'The 39th National Junior Athletics Championships postponed due to (impending) cyclone in Odisha. Next date will be published soon,' Athletics Federation of India (AFI) said in a statement.
The above map (from windy.com) shows the current location of Cyclone Dana and the possible route it will follow for the next 2-3 days.
The above map (from windy.com) shows the current location of Cyclone Dana and the possible route it will follow for the next 2-3 days.
Cyclone Dana: Kolkata Airport To Suspend Flight Operations From 6 P.M. On Thursday
As per latest reports, Airport operation at Bhubaneswar airport will be suspended from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to cyclone DANA.