Heavy rain battered parts of Odisha and West Bengal on Thursday as authorities in both states raced against time to evacuate thousands of people ahead of Cyclone Dana's expected landfall later tonight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified the storm as a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph, posing a significant threat to the coastal districts of both states.
In its latest update, the IMD reported that as of 8:30 AM today, the cyclone was located 210 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 240 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha), and 310 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal). Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha, bringing with it strong winds and torrential rainfall.
Nearly half of Odisha’s population is expected to be impacted by the storm, while West Bengal is bracing for extremely heavy rainfall across multiple districts today and tomorrow. The IMD has warned of dangerous conditions, with coastal areas facing the brunt of the storm.
The cyclone will affect several districts in West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly. Rainfall ranging from very heavy to extremely heavy is expected over the next two days. In anticipation of the storm, Kolkata airport has suspended flight operations from 6 PM on Thursday until 9 AM on Friday. Bhubaneswar airport will also halt operations from 5 PM today until Friday morning.
Odisha has evacuated nearly 3 lakh people from vulnerable areas, while West Bengal has moved over 1.14 lakh residents to shelters.
In response to the cyclone, major transportation services have been disrupted across the region. Nearly 200 trains running through Odisha and West Bengal have been cancelled. The East Coast Railway has called off 198 trains, while the South Eastern Railway has cancelled over 150 trains. The Eastern Railway announced a halt to 190 local trains in Bengal's Sealdah division from Thursday evening until Friday morning.
Ferry services in the Sundarbans region, spread across West Bengal’s North and South 24 Parganas districts, and across the Hooghly River in Kolkata and surrounding areas, have also been suspended.
The Odisha state government has classified Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore as high-risk districts, with wind speeds expected to reach 120 kmph. The districts of Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, and Jajpur are also at risk, with slightly lower wind speeds forecasted. Great danger signals have been issued at several ports in Odisha, including Dhamra, Paradip, and Puri, as the cyclone is expected to cause severe disruptions.
The Indian Navy has prepared for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in both states, deploying essential supplies such as food, water, medicines, and clothing to key locations. Rescue and flood relief teams, including divers, are on standby to assist in coordinated operations. Additionally, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been stationed in Odisha and West Bengal, with 20 teams in Odisha and 17 in West Bengal.
The West Bengal government has set up a task force and control room to coordinate relief efforts and support affected communities. Governor CV Ananda Bose urged residents to remain calm and follow evacuation protocols.
Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea until Friday due to dangerous sea conditions, with wind speeds expected to reach 120 kmph during the cyclone's landfall. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and rescue operations are poised to respond to any emergencies that arise as the storm intensifies.
Cyclone Dana is expected to bring significant damage to coastal regions and disrupt life across Odisha and West Bengal, with authorities working around the clock to minimize the impact on lives and property
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