Cyclone Dana: Odisha To Evacuate 10 Lakh People Ahead Of Landfall

Cyclone Dana is rapidly approaching Odisha, putting nearly half of the state’s population at risk. With the cyclone expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port on the morning of October 25, the Odisha government is preparing for a large-scale evacuation of approximately 10 lakh people across 14 districts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings about the cyclone’s intensity, predicting that wind speeds could reach up to 120 kmph during the landfall, which is expected to occur between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25.

The landfall process is projected to be slow, lasting 5-6 hours. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges are expected to reach their peak during this time. According to the IMD, Cyclone Dana is currently moving northwest at a speed of 13 kmph and was located around 490 km southeast of Paradip, Odisha, as of Wednesday. A tidal surge of up to 2 meters is also expected in the coastal areas during the cyclone’s landfall, posing a serious threat to low-lying regions in districts such as Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore. These areas are likely to experience flooding, prompting the government to begin evacuating residents.

To manage the evacuation and rescue operations, 288 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services have been deployed. The state government has identified 3,000 vulnerable locations across the 14 districts and is setting up around 6,000 relief camps to accommodate the evacuees. These camps will provide food, clean water, medical care, and security, especially for women and children. The districts at risk include Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Angul, Nayagarh, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, and Mayurbhanj.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall across many parts of Odisha beginning on October 23, with heavy rainfall expected in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and other coastal areas. On October 24 and 25, the rainfall is likely to intensify, with isolated areas expected to receive more than 21 cm of rain, especially in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur. All fishing and marine activities in the Bay of Bengal have been prohibited until the cyclone passes. Parts of Odisha, particularly Kendrapara and Bhadrak, are already experiencing the effects of Cyclone Dana, with rain and high winds beginning to affect the region on Wednesday.

(This story is a revised version of a PTI feed)