Bhubaneswar: Dana is an extremely large, extremely dangerous cyclone churning its way towards the coast of Odisha, and according to a forecast, it should produce heavy rains and gusts of winds by Friday morning. The cyclone which has prompted early evacuation in the area is expected to cross between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port late tonight or early tomorrow.
The IMD has said that the cyclone, at present 249 miles away from Dhamra, would bring gusty winds with the speed up to 75 mph during the time of landfall. The condition is predicted to reach its worst during Wednesday night to Thursday evening, where it will give a strong shower and storm with waves likely to hit the coastal area of the state.
Mass Evacuations Underway
Taking its toll in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has recently gone through the state’s disaster preparedness. Still, by Wednesday evening only 30% of the 3-4 lakh people identified in the high-risk zones were evacuated. The evacuation process will be ongoing until Thursday morning as the threat intensifies.
To the immediate east in West Bengal, in excess of 1.14 lakh people shifted, they are also evacuating the entire coastal districts of the state. The heavy rain and intense winds will hit Odisha and West Bengal but extend towards Bihar and Jharkhand as the Cyclone moves further Landward.
Storms and Heavy Rain Begin
Rainfall has already begun in some areas of Odisha, and conditions in Dhamra have worsened as wind speeds are increasing during Thursday. Here we are with cyclone preparedness because cyclone is likely to bring in storm surges and flood the low-lying areas.
People remember the calamity that Cyclone Yaas brought, and therefore, many of them are concerned about the effects. Just like Cyclone Dana there is apprehension that submerged places and other structures that may have been affected by this storm are going to be disastrous to the coastal places.
Preparedness Measures
The Odisha government has put all necessary disaster measures into practice it is even having the ND and DRF and SDRF teams ready. A new issue that has also emerged is concerning the effects of the implementation of the project on the physical environment of the region. Habitat for extensive mangroves and one of the most famous crocodile breeding centres, Bhitarkanika National Park is again in the direct line of any cyclone. Similar damage is expected here as the mangroves of the Sundersbans got ravaged due to cyclone Bulbul.
Transport and Infrastructure Consequence
Following cyclone Dana’s development in the Bay of Bengal, flights at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport will be closed from Thursday evening for 16 hours while flights at Kolkata Airport will be shut for 15 hours starting 6 in the evening Thursday. This is being done as a measure to address risks of conveying passengers and structures with the storm approaching nearer.
IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has emphasised the dangers posed by the cyclone, predicting that wind speeds will reach their maximum during the landfall process, which is expected between 11:30 p.m. tonight and also 5:30 a.m. every Friday. People living along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts have been warned of heavy rainfall, intense winds and high storm surges that could lead to chaos.
Leader Call for Rationality and Mitigation
The former Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has called on people to remain peaceful but alert. He said, “Odisha has been hit by many cyclones in the past and people of Odisha have never bowed down to adversity with their spirit and fortitude. This time we have to be careful and do everything as to have no problems in this situation.”
As Cyclone Dana advances for the potentially disastrous landfall, Odisha and other states in the region stay alert expecting the best preparations will help avoid the worst.