West Bengal and Odisha are preparing for Cyclone Dana’s maximum impact, as it is predicted to make landfall between Puri and Sagar Island on the intervening night of October 24 and 25.
With a wind speed of 100–110 kilometres per hour with a gust of 120 kilometres per hour, “Dana” is predicted to make landfall on the shores of West Bengal and north Odisha.
Here’s how the two states are preparing for the storm.
Coast guard, rescue teams on high alert
According to Additional Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Padmanav Behera, the Odisha government has already sent out 10 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and 17 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force to the 10 districts that are expected to be affected.
Fire services will be moving to 14 districts most likely to be affected. The head office in Bhubaneswar held mock drills. To monitor and control the cyclone situation, the state has also sent six senior IAS officers to six districts: Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Baleswar, and Mayurbhanj. These officers have prior expertise managing cyclones while serving as collectors.
In West Bengal, the NDRF has deployed 13 teams so far to respond to any situation.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged all MLAs to remain in their constituencies.
In light of the storm, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) stated that it was on high alert and had deployed its ships and aircrafts to react quickly to any emergencies. “The ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergency situations,” a statement read.
According to reports, the ICG has taken a number of actions, including setting up remote operating stations and helicopters at Haldia and Paradip to regularly broadcast weather warnings and safety advice to fishermen and mariners.
Furthermore, it has been stated that the ICG staff is coordinating with the local government and disaster management agencies.
Doctors have been called back to their respective medical facilities and their leaves have been cancelled. The Health Department has also instructed district officials to make sure that there are enough supplies of medications, such as anti-venom injections and diarrhoeal medications.
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Evacuation drives underway
Around 800 cyclone shelters have been prepared in Odisha, which is expected to be the most severely impacted, so that people may be evacuated from places that are at risk. Along with other necessities, food, water, medication, and electricity are available.
Over 500 temporary shelters, including in educational institutions, have also been prepared.
Following its earlier plan to evacuate citizens from high-risk regions in order to guarantee “zero casualties,” the Odisha government has instructed district administrations to begin evacuating residents.
“Priority will be given to shift pregnant women, children and aged persons first. Besides over 800 multipurpose cyclone shelters, the government has prepared 500 more temporary shelters using school and college buildings. We are ensuring all basic facilities, including cooked food, at the shelters,” the state’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told reporters.
CM Mamata Banerjee said during a press conference that the state has already started evacuation efforts in low-lying areas and is ready to tackle the emergency.
As a result of the cyclone’s influence, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has already started making plans to deal with the city’s anticipated heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
To review the backup preparations, authorities met with Municipal Commissioner Dhabal Jain.
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Cyclone Dana to strike Odisha-Bengal coast: How devastating is it expected to be?
Schools, national parks, stadium closed
In up to 14 districts of Odisha, schools would be closed from Wednesday to Friday.
Additionally, the state announced that two of its national parks, Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district and Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, would be closed to visitors and tourists from October 23 to 25.
The Athletics Federation of India said on Tuesday that the 39th National Junior Athletics Championships, which were supposed to take place in Kalinga Stadium from October 25 to 30, had been postponed because of Cyclone Dana.
The West Bengal government on Tuesday announced that schools and colleges in eight districts will remain closed from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure.
“Schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure. We do not want to take any risk. Schools and colleges are sometimes used as shelters for people,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, adding that those residing in low-lying areas of coastal districts have been asked to move.
The Archaeological Survey of India has announced the closure of all monuments and museums for two days.
Trains cancelled
A total of 197 trains to Odisha and West Bengal were cancelled in view of Cyclone Dana.
Numerous mail and express trains that connect West Bengal and Odisha to other regions of the country have been cancelled by South Eastern Railway.
Among the cancelled trains, 103 were travelling east through the state of Odisha while 94 were travelling south.
As a precaution, five trains leaving Assam and five trains heading to Assam were cancelled on Wednesday. The cancelled trains are 12552 Kamakhya-Bengaluru AC Superfast Express; 12514 Silchar-Secunderabad Express; 22504 Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express; 12509 Bengaluru-Guwahati Express; 22503 Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express.
Authorities at the Kolkata airport have begun preparing to handle any crisis that may arise from an impending cyclonic storm that could strike coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal.
According to a senior official who spoke to Indian Express, standard operating protocols are being followed, including inspecting the drainage system and airport infrastructure as well as inspecting and maintaining all systems.
West Bengal Chief Minister advised tourists from the state, who are visiting Puri in Odisha, to return home.
Ferry, fishing activities suspended
West Bengal has issued on ‘high alert’ in eight districts – South 24 Paraganas, North 24 Paraganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Hooghly Howrah and Kolkata.
During this time, ferry services will continue to be suspended. It has been learnt that fishing communities have been warned to refrain from going out to sea through “various channels,” including the heads of villages.
The districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri are anticipated to be worst affected in Odisha. Flash floods could result from the cyclonic storm’s severe rainfall in other nearby districts.
With inputs from agencies
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