The severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ is gaining strength in the Bay of Bengal and is heading towards Odisha coast to make a landfall on the intervening night of this Thursday and Friday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today
released a new possible track of the impending severe cyclonic storm which is likely to hit Odisha coast near Balasore and Bhadrak or Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara.
The IMD has confirmed that the depression formed over east central Bay of Bengal is about 700 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha and 750 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by tomorrow over east central Bay of Bengal.
Thereafter, continuing to move northwestwards, it is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal by Thursday morning and further start the process of landfall. ‘Dana’ is expected to strike the Odisha coast with a wind speed of 100 to 110 km per hour gusting 120 km per hour at the time of the landfall. More from our Odisha correspondent:
The Odisha government has kept the entire administration on high alert in view of the possible landfall of severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ off Odisha coast on the intervening night of 24th and 25th of this month. The government plans 100 percent evacuations from potentially impacted areas likely to be badly affected by ‘Dana’ by tomorrow evening.
All schools in 14 coastal and neighboring districts will remain close for three days from tomorrow, while all scheduled examinations have also been cancelled. Over 800 multipurpose cyclone shelters equipped with essential facilities like electricity, food and water are being readied in the coastal districts.
The Chief Secretary of Odisha Mr Manoj Ahuja today reviewed the preparedness for the severe cyclone with all the departments at Bhubaneswar. The state government has asked NDRAF, ODRAF and Fire Service personnel to make their positions at all red zone districts predicted by the IMD for evacuation and relief operations.
Additionally, the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard have assembled rescue and relief teams, along with ships and aircraft, to assist if needed. All ports have been given red alert, while fishermen have been banned from entering sea from tomorrow.
Pilgrims who have come to visit the coastal holy city of Puri have started leaving the town following the state government’s appeal. Rainfall activity is set to commence from tomorrow, with IMD has issued red alert for all the coastal districts from Thursday for two days.
