As Cyclone Dana approaches the eastern coast of India and Bangladesh, authorities have cancelled trains, advised fishermen to stay ashore, and prepared for potential evacuations of vulnerable populations. The storm, currently located over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 kph (74 mph) before making landfall late Thursday, according to India’s meteorological department.
In India’s cyclone-prone Odisha state, over 200 trains have been cancelled, and officials are preparing to evacuate residents in at-risk areas. “We are making announcements and will begin evacuations after lunch hours,” said Dilip Routrai, an administrative officer in one of the affected districts.
The weather office has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Odisha over the next three days, with the potential for the storm to damage homes, roads, crops, and power lines, leading to flooding and landslides. Schools in Odisha have been closed until Friday, and fishermen have been cautioned against going out to sea.
In neighboring Bangladesh, the meteorological department has issued warnings to fishermen and advised ports along the southern coastline to remain vigilant. Additionally, India’s West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, has deployed disaster relief teams equipped with tree-cutting machinery and restoration tools to mitigate the storm’s impact.