Cyclone Dana is set to impact India’s eastern coast, with Odisha and West Bengal bracing for the storm’s landfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression early Tuesday, and is expected to evolve into a severe cyclonic storm.
According to the IMD, the storm was located approximately 730 km southeast of Paradip, Odisha, as of 5 a.m. Tuesday, and is tracking west-northwest. Cyclone Dana is projected to make landfall between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25. The IMD warns that the storm’s intensity will remain strong, urging residents in coastal areas to stay vigilant.
NDRF and Central Agencies on High Alert
In preparation for the cyclone, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has mobilized 14 teams in West Bengal and 11 in Odisha, ready for deployment. Central agencies, including the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, have been placed on high alert with additional rescue teams, ships, and aircraft on standby for rapid response. Emergency units from the Ministries of Power and Telecommunications are also on standby to restore essential services once the cyclone passes.
Evacuation and Preparedness
Local authorities in both states have activated control rooms to manage the situation, and preparations are underway to evacuate residents from vulnerable coastal areas. Fishermen have been advised to return to shore as conditions are expected to deteriorate ahead of the cyclone’s landfall.