Cyclone Dana: A Stormy Outlook for Odisha and West Bengal

Cyclone Dana is likely to bring severe winds, heavy rains, and disruption of essential services to eastern India, thus causing extreme precautionary measures in Odisha and West Bengal.

Cyclone Dana is a rapidly intensifying storm over the Bay of Bengal, which has affected rail services and raised heightened alerts in India’s eastern coastal states. The cyclone, the second major weather phenomenon in the north Indian Ocean basin this year, comes in the wake of Cyclone Asna, which originated in the Arabian Sea last month. The India Meteorological Department has been tracking the advance of the storm, which is expected to gain momentum as a severe cyclone and head northwest toward the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal.

According to Mrutunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD, Cyclone Dana, which is likely to make its landfall between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal bringing potentially damaging winds and rain, has halted rail services.
East Coast Railways have announced that all the train services have been badly hit due to Cyclone Dana. The rail authorities have cancelled 198 trains in advance before the formation of the cyclone that is expected to hit tomorrow. The cancellations have been made for the trains passing through or originating from Odisha as the entire railway network is preparing to face the situation of inundation, strong winds and other adverse conditions. It has also been requested from the passengers to be on their toes with the travel plan as the schedule may alter further based on the movement and development of the cyclone.

Railway officials mentioned that precautions must be taken seriously, and risks of cyclonic activity need to be reduced as much as possible. These suspended services of various lines would make the reduction of the amount of passenger flow in dangerous places, thereby allowing the free movement of rescue teams at the time of the carrying out of rescue and evacuation operations.

IMD track Cyclone Dana

The IMD reported Cyclone Dana to have traveled at 18 km per hour in the last six hours while located over the east-central Bay of Bengal. It is expected to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm as it moves towards the northwest Bay of Bengal, and impacts are likely at coastal areas on Thursday night.

IMD has projected that Dana will further strengthen and develop into a full-fledged severe cyclone by the late hours of Thursday night or early hours of Friday. Landfall is expected in between the coasts of Puri and Sagar Island. High wind speeds and heavy rain will, therefore, lash the coasts, especially in the states of Odisha and West Bengal, and inflict major flooding and damage to their infrastructure.

Indian Coast Guard and State Governments Prepared for the Eventual Fallout

The resources at the Indian Coast Guard are mobilized swiftly and reach the location within the shortest time possible to handle any situation. Aircraft, ships, and far away communication stations are also telecasting weather messages to all the fishermen and residents in low lying coastal areas and making them aware of the threat from the sea as well till the cyclone strikes. The maritime traffic is keenly monitored so that mishaps are not encountered close to the coast.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had issued instructions to the Odisha MLAs and government administrative employees to prepare for rescuing and relief work. This is because the main preparedness of the state administration is for the failure in the delivery of such primary services as hospitals and other health facilities. To say nothing of the fact, that the government is more interested in keeping a check on the markets so as to prevent hoarding, while the prices of important articles are not allowed to become high. The state government is gearing up for an efficient restoration of power, water, telecommunication, and road connectivity in case the cyclone leads to massive disruption.

Precautionary measures have also been declared by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamta Banerjee. Schools in seven districts will be closed from October 23 to October 26, and residents in low-lying coastal regions have been advised to temporarily shift to safer areas. Local officials have been asked to coordinate evacuation plans and ensure that community shelters are prepared to accommodate displaced residents if needed.

Both State Governments have been actively pursuing contingency measures for expected interruption in supply of essentials. With overhead electricity lines, water supply pipelines, and telecommunications lines expected to face damage from the whirlwind actions of the cyclone, restoration efforts are being focussed early on. Electricity supply has been promised for uninterrupted supply to hospitals in Odisha besides maintaining regular supplies of essentials like drinking water and foodstuff for the affected zones.

There will be a proactive assurance from the government about having a means of communication with the locals. There are public safety messages: emergency contact number, information on shelters and weather alert through local authority, television, and social media.

Preventive Lockdowns and Evacuation

Local administrations have resorted to the minimization of public exposure to hazardous conditions due to strong winds and heavy downpour from the cyclone. In West Bengal, for example, the government closes schools in vulnerable districts to reduce transportation needs and brings children out of potentially dangerous weather conditions.

In the meantime, however, the IMD warns flooding and landslides in areas of low elevation are likely to strike those of a loose soil composition. Various regional officials in both the states have been demanding from the residents in the same areas to shift their locales to safer locations, since they may be put safe from the dangers that involved flooding and mudslides.
Forecast and Further Developments
As Cyclone Dana moves closer to the eastern coast of India, the meteorologists are already on a high alert for further movement of the cyclone and the IMD has also warned that it would release more advisories in the next couple of days. In this context, the agency also predicted that the cyclone would be relatively weaker for some time but was sure to create serious threats towards the coastal infrastructures and agricultural sectors.

The cyclone can potentially cause a high impact in the regional agricultural sector. Heavy rains will lead to soil erosion and crop damages in Odisha and West Bengal. For these two states where agriculture is part of their local economy, this will become an important government support area that will take place well in time along with effective mitigation measures which will support the farmers if they do face losses in the entire process.

Coordination Road Ahead: Effective Disaster Response

The Cyclone Dana response illustrates the value of coordinated effort between meteorological agencies, local government entities, and national authorities, such as the Indian Coast Guard. Taking proactive steps toward safety measures, mobilizing resources, and communication ensure that damage from the cyclone to residents and the services would be at minimum.

By establishing evacuation plans, making emergent repairs to the country’s infrastructure, and staging awareness campaigns on public safety with the help of these moves, Odisha and West Bengal are much more aware now of the problems that would be caused by Cyclone Dana. The combined efforts of states’ administrations, in keeping with the watchfulness that the Indian Coast Guard extends and the accurate tracking system of the IMD, determine the mitigation of possible catastrophe that this storm would usher in.

As Cyclone Dana is forecasted to reach the eastern coastline, authorities will continue to monitor and respond to developments for safety of residents and timely restoration of essential services.

Source: India Meteorological Department (IMD)

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