Odisha braces for severe storm as Cyclone Dana approaches; more than 200 trains cancelled, civil service exams postponed

BHUBANESHWAR: As the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ on Wednesday morning and is likely to cross the Odisha coast near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra within the next 48 hours, the state government has accelerated its evacuation efforts. the residents of vulnerable areas in the coastal areas.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone will also cause heavy rainfall in several districts of south Bengal, including Kolkata.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged all MLAs to coordinate with the government in rescue and relief operations in the coastal region of the state, which is likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone.

The preliminary test of the Odisha civil services exam 2023, which was to be held on October 27, has been postponed due to the approaching cyclone.

According to IMD, the tropical weather system will develop into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwestern Bay of Bengal on Thursday morning. It is likely to cross the coast of North Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island, near Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, between Thursday evening and Friday morning as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100 kmph to 110 kmph and gusty winds. up to 120 km/h.

The national weather forecaster said the storm surge is expected to be 1 to 2 meters above the astronomical tide and the low-lying areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore districts are likely to be inundated during the cyclone’s landfall.

According to the IMD, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal districts could face the brunt of the first cyclonic storm of the post-monsoon season over the Bay of Bengal. The warning for all ports in Odisha was upgraded and remote warning signal number 2 was hoisted on that day.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guard, Odisha Fire and Emergency Service, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and other rescue organizations are on high alert and deployed in the districts likely to be affected by the storm.