Cyclone Dana: Major impacts are expected over THESE districts of Odisha and West Bengal today

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Dana will cross the coast of North Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island as a severe cyclone on Thursday night. This has led to several red and orange alerts in the states.

Predictions about Odisha

Under the influence of Dana, light to moderate rainfall fell in most places heavy rain (07-11 cm) at isolated places is very likely from tonight in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Khurda districts of Odisha.

Further, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm), along with extremely heavy showers (over 21 cm), is forecast in Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Khorda and Puri districts . Odisha on October 24 and 25.

Predictions about West Bengal

In West Bengal, moderate showers with heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) are forecast today in most districts of the state. Heavy to very heavy showers with extremely heavy rainfall are likely over South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, HurrahHooghly, Kolkata and Bankura districts of Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25.

Expected consequences

The districts in Odisha including Baleswar, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khorda, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal along with West Bengal districts such as South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and Bankura are likely to experience significant impacts due to the upcoming weather conditions.

The main expected damages include:

• Extensive damage to thatched houses and huts, with roofs blown off and loose metal sheets released into the air.
• Tree branches may break and some trees may be uprooted.
• Power and communication lines are at risk of being damaged.
• Kutcha roads are expected to sustain major damage while Pucca roads may also be affected. Flooding of escape routes is a possibility.
• Vulnerable structures are likely to sustain significant damage.
• Banana and papaya trees can sustain extensive damage, while large dead branches can be blown off the trees.
• Horticulture and standing crops are at risk from both wind damage and flooding.
• Embankments and salt pans are also vulnerable to damage.
• Localized flooding of roads, flooding in low-lying areas and closure of underpasses in urban areas are expected.
• Occasional reductions in visibility due to heavy rainfall can disrupt traffic and cause road delays and accidents.
• Landslides, mudslides and other land disturbances are possible in the affected areas.
• Sea and inland waterway transport, including small boats and trawlers, is likely to be disrupted.
• River flooding may occur in some catchments. For updates, please visit the Central Water Commission website.

Action proposed for affected districts

In the above-mentioned districts of Odisha and West Bengal, the following precautionary measures are advised:

• Complete suspension of fishing activities in Central and North Bay of Bengal from October 23 to 25.
• Fishermen are advised to avoid the following:
  • The East Central Bay of Bengal from October 23 to 24.
  • Adjacent areas of the West Central Bay of Bengal on October 23 and 24.
  • The northwest and adjoining northeastern Bay of Bengal, as well as the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh, between October 23 and 25.
• Traveling by motorboat is considered unsafe during this period.
• Residents of coastal huts should be moved to safer locations.
• People in affected areas must stay indoors.
• Maritime, port and shipping activities must be carefully regulated, both onshore and offshore.
• Coastal tourism activities should be monitored judiciously.
• Surface transportation, including railways and roads, must be regulated to prevent accidents and traffic congestion.
• Residents should avoid swampy areas and refrain from staying in vulnerable structures.

Be sure to check traffic advisories and avoid traveling on routes prone to congestion and flooding.

Cyclone Dana is expected to begin to de-intensify in the evening hours on Friday, October 25. It will first transition from a severe cyclonic storm to a cyclonic storm and then a depression within the next 12 hours.