Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 24: Massive rescue operations have been launched in Odisha and West Bengal and a number of trains and flights cancelled as the severe cyclonic storm “Dana” is fiercely approaching the coast and is likely to make the landfall between Puri and Sagar islands during midnight Thursday and early morning Friday at a velocity of around 120 kilometres an hour.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday, “the Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘DANA’ is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during midnight of October 24 – October 25 (morning) with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.” It said that as a result isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25.
“We plan to shift 10 lakh people to different cyclone shelters where all services will be made available. We hope that the evacuation would pick up by evening,” Suresh Pujari, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, said. In West Bengal, the chief minister Mamata Banerjee said more than 3.5 lakh people in the cyclone-affected areas were being shifted to safer places.
The IMD has prohibited all marine activities, including fishing, in the Bay of Bengal until the cyclone has passed. “All fishermen returned to the coast by Tuesday evening,” said Pujari.
The Met warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy downpours in isolated places in the West Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts on October 24 and 25. “Heavy rainfall, wind and storm surge will reach the peak during the landfall time, which is between October 24 night and October 25 morning,” he added. In Odisha few districts including Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack are likely to get extremely heavy rainfall,” the IMD said.
Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled a large number of trains on October 24 and 25, in view of the cyclone. With the cyclone approaching fast towards the state’s coast, several activities, including the functioning of the Orissa High Court, Biju Patnaik International Airport, ports at Paradip and Dhamara, all educational institutions and others, remained suspended in the wake of the impending calamity.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across South Bengal to tackle emergencies. The Indian Navy was also preparing to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has opened a control room at its headquarters in the city and cancelled the leaves of all essential staff.
As severe cyclonic storm Dana approaches the Odisha coast, anxious residents in Kendrapara district are desperately rushing to relief camps, finally heeding the urgent calls of authorities, an official said. Intermittent rain and gusty winds have taken control of seaside villages since Thursday morning as the storm threatens the coastal areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts.
Severe cyclonic storm Dana lay within 200 km of the Odisha coast on Thursday afternoon, as several parts of the state experienced heavy rain and squally winds, with the sea condition remaining rough, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In view of the cyclone, Home Minister Amit Shah has also talked to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi and assured him of central help if the state requires it.
Speaking to the media about Cyclone Dana, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, “The forecast of landfall is between midnight to tomorrow morning. The landfall will be between Puri and Sagardeep near Bhitarkarnika and Dhamra. The wind speed during the landfall is expected to be 100-120 kmph.” “At present, the wind speed in coastal areas is 60-70 kmph. Wind speed will be very high in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Medinipur districts. The intensity of rainfall will increase gradually,” he said.
“The cyclone Dana intensified into a severe cyclonic storm last midnight and moved north north-westward and today in the forenoon it is lying centred about 200 km southeast. We are expecting that Cyclone Dana will move north-northwestward and cross Odisha, West Bengal coast between Puri and Sagar island as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100 to 120 kmph under its influence.”
“The most adverse impact will be over Odisha, followed by West Bengal coastal districts. Following the landfall, Cyclone Dana is expected to move west-northwestward and hence there could be an increase in rainfall activity over south Jharkhand. We have also issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for south Jharkhand districts at isolated places. There could be a wind speed of 40 to 50 Km/hr in Jharkhand and 50 to 60 kmph in interior districts of Odisha on October 24 and 25,” the official said.
Flight operations at the Kolkata airport was suspended from 6 pm on Thursday until 9 am on Friday, as heavy winds and very heavy rainfall were expected to lash parts of the state amid Cyclone Dana’s landfall process. Schools in the worst-affected areas of Odisha and West Bengal have also been closed.
Public transportation to and from Kolkata’s suburbs were also affected as Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled a large number of trains on Thursday and Friday, in view of the cyclone. More than 170 express and passenger trains running through South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction have been cancelled, an official said. The trains cancelled were scheduled to depart from their originating stations between October 23 and October 27, he said.
The Kolkata-headquartered SER zone is spread across West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Besides, the Eastern Railway (ER) will not operate any Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) local trains from Sealdah station on its south and Hasnabad sections from 8 pm on Thursday till 10 am on Friday, the official said. The Eastern Railway also cancelled 68 suburban trains on the Howrah division on Friday morning, he said.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it was on high alert and has mobilised vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency over the Bay of Bengal. Ferry services in the Sunderbans area spread over North and South 24 Parganas districts and also across river Hooghly in Kolkata and adjoining areas will remain cancelled in view of the impending inclement weather, officials said.
Odisha chief minister said those who have been evacuated were being provided with dry and cooked food and all other arrangements have been made in the cyclone shelters. The Chief Minister claimed that the state government was fully prepared to tackle the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm and urged the people to remain safe and not to panic. Mr Majhi also said he has deputed ministers to various districts and experienced officers to handle cyclone management.
Three ports in Odisha have issued great danger signal number 10, a senior IMD official said Wednesday. According to Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty, great danger signal number 10 has been hoisted at Dhamra, Paradip and Puri ports and great danger signal number 8 at Gopalpur port.