New Delhi:
Authorities remained on alert as the landfall of ‘severe’ Cyclone Dana on the Odisha coast began on Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday. The coastal districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Balasore witnessed sudden increase in wind speed which reached 100 kmph to 110 kmph and extremely heavy rain. Similar conditions were also witnessed in West Bengal.
The storm moved north-northwest at a speed of 15 kmph over the past six hours before making landfall between Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with wind speeds of around 110 kmph, a senior IMD official said.
IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said 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.
Here are the live updates on Cyclone Dana:
After Cyclone Dana’s landfall, Jharkhand received heavy rains, especially in the Kolhan division.
Areas like Jagannathpur, Saraikela, and Baharagora received the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours. Other affected districts include Giridih, Godda, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Sahibganj, and Lohardaga.
Flights from Ranchi to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata on Friday have been cancelled, and around 10 trains passing through or headed to Jharkhand have also been halted.
The Meteorological Department anticipates similar weather on October 26, with possible lightning strikes across Jharkhand. Fog is expected on October 26-27, followed by a drop in temperatures from October 28.
Farmers have been advised to drain excess water from their fields and harvest ripe vegetables promptly to prevent crop damage.
Odisha evacuated altogether 5,84,888 people, and the number could exceed 6,00,000 by Friday morning.
“These people are lodging in 6,008 cyclone shelters, where they are being provided with food, medicine, water, and other essential supplies,” Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.
The chief minister said Balasore district saw the highest evacuation, with 172,916 people taken to safety, followed by Mayurbhanj with 100,000. Additionally, 75,000 people were evacuated from Bhadrak, 58,000 from Jajpur, and 46,000 from Kendrapara.
He clarified that the state government initially aimed to evacuate 10 lakh people, and the target was adjusted based on the changing trajectory of Cyclone Dana. “We successfully evacuated all people from high-risk areas,” the chief minister said.
The heavy rain caused by Cyclone Dana caused damage to harvestable crops, especially paddy and potato, in West Bengal.
Prices of certain essential food items in the retail markets are expected to be high before the forthcoming festive season of Kali Puja and Diwali.
As per predictions of the Regional Meteorological Office in Kolkata, heavy showers will continue in the districts of South Bengal throughout the day and the intensity of the rainfall is expected to recede in the evening.
According to state administration, the maximum impact during the Cyclone Dana landfall process was reported from coastal Sundarbans areas like Namkhana, Sagar Islands and Patharpratima, where several trees were uprooted because of heavy wind. Trident lampposts, especially near the ‘Kapil Muni Ashram’ in Sagar Island, too were severely damaged.
As cyclonic storm Dana made landfall in Odisha, it is showing its impact in the neighbouring state of Bihar, where Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for heavy rain and strong winds.
Cloud cover was witnessed in more than 34 districts in Bihar, with temperatures dropping by 1-6 degrees Celsius.
On Friday, October 25, rain is anticipated in eastern, south-central, and eastern Bihar, with the heaviest downpours likely in the Kosi and Seemanchal districts. Rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds of 20-40 kmph is forecast for 24 districts, including Buxar, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Nawada, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Banka, Jamui, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul, and Patna.
On Saturday, October 26, the impact of Dana will persist, with rain forecast across northeast, north-central, and south Bihar. Officials are warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds in these areas, urging residents to take precautions.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said 1,600 of 4,431 pregnant women relocated to relief centres due to cyclone Dana have given birth.
Earlier in the day, a woman evacuated from Cuttack district gave birth to a baby boy at Niali Hospital.
This birth was announced by the state government’s Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department, highlighting that the mother was among the 4,431 pregnant women taken to cyclone shelters.
Authorities remained on alert and people hunkered down as the landfall of the ‘severe’ cyclonic storm Dana began on Thursday night, lasting 8.5 hours.
Here is what transpired in Odisha:
- Trees were uprooted, power lines snapped and some areas were inundated amid heavy rains and surge in sea water of up to 1.15 metres.
- Wind speeds reached 100-110 kmph (62-68 mph), gusting up to 120 kph (75 mph).
- The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, was hit by a “gale force wind” that caused hundreds of trees to be uprooted
- Makeshift shops on beaches were blown away.
- Damage to standing paddy crop was reported, mostly in neighbouring West Bengal.
- Educational institutes, parks and museums remained closed on Friday.
- Flights operations were suspended at the Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports, but were resumed at 8 am. Hundreds of trains were cancelled.
- No deaths or injuries were reported.
Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world heats up due to climate change driven by burning fossil fuels.
Warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapour, which provides additional energy for storms, strengthening winds. A warming atmosphere also allows storms to hold more water, boosting heavy rainfall.
But better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically reduced death tolls.
In view of Cyclone Dana, the Odisha Raj Bhavan is running a 24×7 control room with the phone numbers 033-22001641 and E-mail ID emergency.danarajbhavan@gmail.com.
Odisha’s worst cyclone in recent years was in 1999, which raged for 30 hours and killed 10,000 people.
Severe storms lash coastal cities in India and neighbouring Bangladesh during the cyclone season from April to December each year, causing extensive damage.
The severe cyclonic storm Dana which hit the landmass at a wind speed of 110 kmph has weakened and has become a cyclonic storm. The cyclone lay centered at about 50 km north-north west of Dhamra and 30 km of north east of Bhadrak town.
“The maximum sustained wind speed around the centre of the cyclone is about 80 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph,” the IMD said.
The cyclone is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a deep depression during next six hours, the IMD said.
The landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm Dana was completed, with the system taking at least eight and half hours to enter the landmass.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said no casualties were reported in the state so far. Stateminister Suryabanshi Suraj said there was power disturbance, house damage and agriculture land was affected, adding that authorities are focused on restoration work.
Telecom service providers in Odisha activated intra-circle roaming in seven districts of the state which were put under ‘red-warning’ for cyclone Dana.
State Electronic and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the intra-circle roaming allows telecom operators to use each other’s network and such an arrangement is active in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Cuttack districts.
To further ensure that customers stay connected, Jio has enabled Interconnect Roaming (ICR) in Odisha and West Bengal. It will enable customers to remain connected with the available network irrespective of any service provider at that point in time.
The National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research urged the paddy farmers to take precautionary measures to minimise crop loss.
Among others, scientists have asked farmers to keep drainage channels open in non-mature paddy crops to drain the excess water out of fields to minimise the loss due to waterlogging. “Harvested rice should also be properly stacked at safer places and covered with tarpaulin to avoid further damage due to prolonged rainfall,” the advisory said.
It suggested that after the rain stops, the farmers should immediately dry the rice grains under the sun for one or two days to reduce the moisture content and then store the grains in good quality bags to retain their quality, texture, colour, aroma and taste for a longer period.
Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in a statement said that all measures were being taken to protect the Jagannath temple in Puri while keeping the daily rituals intact.
Devotees too were advised caution while undertaking a month-long ‘Kartik Brata’ ritual at the 12th century shrine.
The district administration and ASI have also taken measures to protect the tourists visiting the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark. The ASI has closed the Konark Temple for two days while the district police prevented all tourists from visiting sea beaches.
INSAT Cloud picture shows Cyclone located over North Odisha Coast at 0745 hrs IST of today, the 25th Oct 2024 pic.twitter.com/h688etwLmp
– India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2024
The NDRF and ODRAF teams on Friday started restoration work by removing uprooted trees from the roads in the coastal districts of Odisha even as the landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana is still going on.
“There has been massive damage to electrical installations due to tree falling. Roads are being cleared,” Odisha Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who is in charge of Bhadrak district, said.
Kamaria Bazar and Santapura Bazar,Tihidi,dist.-Bhadrak at about 8.00 & 8.10 hrs.#CycloneDana@IPR_Odisha@CMO_Odisha@SRC_Odishapic.twitter.com/KnNyGCS4K5
– Odisha Fire & Emergency Services (@OdishaF_ES) October 25, 2024
Dos
- Stay Indoors: Remain inside your home and switch off electrical mains and gas supply to prevent fires and gas leaks.
- Secure Your Space: Close all doors and windows to protect against strong winds. If your home is unsafe, evacuate to a designated shelter.
- Stay Informed: Stay updated on weather forecasts and any evacuation orders through official sources like the IMD.
- Drink Safe Water: Boil or purify water to avoid waterborne diseases.
- Follow Official Guidance: Trust information from local authorities and emergency services for your safety.
Don’ts
- Don’t Enter Unsafe Buildings: Avoid entering buildings until they are deemed safe by authorities.
- Avoid Hazards Outdoors: Stay away from broken electric poles, downed wires and sharp objects that may cause injury.
- Don’t Ignore Safety Shelters: If outside, seek shelter in sturdy buildings or designated cyclone shelters to protect against flying debris.
- Avoid Returning Early: Wait for officials to declare your area safe before returning home after the cyclone.
- Don’t Handle Electrical Hazards: Stay clear of dangling wires and other electrical hazards, as they may still carry current after the cyclone has passed.
The scene of devastation caused by Cyclone Phailin in 2013 still haunts the people of Ganjam, as the Odisha government prepared for Cyclone Dana.
On October 12, 2013, Phailin made landfall near Gopalpur, destroying infrastructure in the district, claiming at least 15 lives, and damaging around 250,000 houses.
“When the district administration began preparing for the possible cyclone and prevented us from going to the sea for fishing, the memories of that dark night came flooding back,” M. Tateya, 65 from the coastal village of Aryapalli, told PTI.
“During my lifetime, I will never forget the disaster caused by Phailin, which robbed me of all my belongings, including my thatched house,’ said Laxmi, 50, of Jagdalpur.
Flight operations resumed at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Bhubaeswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport at 8 am.
The first flight departed from Kolkata at 8.40 am and another arrived at 8.27 am.
The rear sector of ‘severe’ Cyclone Dana is entering into land and the landfall process is expected to continue for another hour, an IMD bulletin said.
The cyclonic system is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm before 12 pm.
Heavy rains packed with gusty winds lashed parts of southern West Bengal, with waterlogging in various parts of Mandarmani in Purba Medinipur and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas adding to people’s misery.
Operations at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport will remain suspended until 9 AM on Friday due to expected high winds and heavy rain.
South Eastern Railway (SER), which oversees routes in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, has cancelled more than 170 express and passenger trains scheduled between October 23 and 27.
Additionally, Eastern Railway cancelled 68 suburban trains in the Howrah division for Friday morning, while all EMU local trains from Sealdah station were suspended from Thursday evening till Friday morning.
Kolkata Port authorities also halted ship movements until Friday evening as a precautionary measure.
Rainfall intensified in the early morning hours across the affected districts, including Kolkata, which experienced moderate-to-heavy rainfall, along with hailstorms, since Thursday night.
An ‘orange’ alert has been issued in Jharkhand’s Kolhan region (West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts) for Friday. This category of alert indicates heavy rainfall ranging from 115 mm to 204 mm in 24 hours, the official said.
“Apart from heavy rain, the region might also experience thunderstorms and gusty winds with speeds of up to 60 kmph,” Ranchi Meteorological Centre in-charge Abhishek Anand said.
Six teams of the NDRF have been deployed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, while two teams were kept on standby in Ranchi to deal with any emergency situation, another official said.
Several parts of central Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla and Ramgarh, may also experience heavy rainfall on Friday, Anand said.
Expressing solidarity with the people in view of cyclone ‘Dana’, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that it is a moment of crisis but the state has braved many storms and will face this also with “confidence” and “fortitude”.
“Bengal will stand together and we shall overcome. My dear brothers and sisters, please follow all instructions issued by the government and disaster management authority. Please follow dos and don’ts prescribed by them. All the disaster management machinery of the state government and the Government of India are kept well-oiled and fighting fit,” he added.
The West Bengal Governor further asserted that coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success. “There is no calamity that a human mind cannot overcome,” he said.
As per the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dana’s name was suggested by Qatar. It means “generosity” in Arabic.
The WMO says that assigning names to tropical cyclones makes tracking and discussing specific storms more “straightforward, especially when multiple storms are active simultaneously.”
“Naming also helps to avoid confusion among meteorologists, media, emergency management agencies and the public. Additionally, naming tropical cyclones can aid historical record-keeping and research on storm behaviour and impacts,” the WMO says.
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The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar suspended flight operations at the airport from Thursday 5 PM to 9 AM on October 25. Earlier, the East Coast Railway had suspended more than 150 trains in view of Cyclone Dana.
All the educational institutions, parks, libraries, and museums located in the affected districts have also been closed.
The Orissa High Court will remain closed on Friday in view of the cyclonic storm.
The Odisha Public Service Commission has also postponed the Odisha Civil Services Preliminary Examination-2023.
Gale with wind speed 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is already prevailing along and off north Odisha and is likely to continue till Friday morning and decrease gradually thereafter. Gale of wind speed reaching 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely along and off south Odisha till Friday morning and decrease gradually thereafter, the IMD said.
The weather agency has also said that light-to-moderate rainfall in most places and heavy-to-very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (above 21 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur Keonjhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, Khurda and Puri districts are expected till October 25.
In Odisha, 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, as Cyclone Dana’s landfall commenced.
The storm moved north-northwest at a speed of 15 kmph for six hours before making landfall between Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with wind speeds of around 110 kmph, a senior IMD official said.
IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra 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.
Suresh Pujari, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, said 5.84 lakh people were evacuated, with 7,307 relief centres opened across different districts. 6,454 domestic animals were brought to relief centres, 213 medical teams were deployed to take care of the evacuated people and 120 veterinary teams have also been positioned in different locations.
Moreover, 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 51 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and 220 Fire Services teams have been deployed.
2014: Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
2018: Titli in Odisha
2019: Fani in Odisha
2019: Bulbul in West Bengal
2020: Amphan in West Bengal
Authorities in Odisha are on alert for snapped power lines and disruption of other services and at daybreak authorities will begin the process of assessing the damage due to winds and heavy rain.
Reports of trees getting uprooted were received, however, no major damage or casualty was witnessed.
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 the severe cyclonic storm.
The services at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, which were suspended on Thursday evening as part of precautionary measures, will resume at 9 am today.
The landfall of Cyclone Dana began on the Odisha coast on Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday, leading to heavy rain and strong winds of 110kmph, gusting up to 120kmph.
Reports of trees being uprooted have come in from Dhamra where the cyclone made landfall. East Midnapore in West Bengal is witnessing the impact of the cyclone the most and places like Digha have witnessed heavy rainfall.