Cyclonic Dana is rapidly approaching the coast of Odisha, with landfall expected early Friday morning. The storm is predicted to bring heavy rains and thunderstorms to the region. In preparation, the Bhadrak district administration began evacuating residents to cyclone shelters on Thursday, ahead of the storm’s impact on October 25.
Government Monitoring Situation Closely
Odisha Minister Suryavanshi Suraj said that the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed, and the state government is closely monitoring the situation.
“Arrangements for electricity, food, and medical services are being made in all the areas affected by the cyclone. Approximately 3,000-4,000 people have already been relocated to safer areas. The cyclone’s impact is expected to be more severe in the Dhamra area, and we will be monitoring the situation throughout the night,” Minister Suraj said.
He added, “Arrangements for NDRF teams and road clearance have also been made. The port administration has agreed to halt work for two days to ensure the safety of its employees. We are continuously assessing the situation.”
Evacuations in Vulnerable Areas
Bhadrak Collector Dilip Routrai told ANI, “We are evacuating people from vulnerable areas. Some are coming on their own, while others are being assisted by the police, as they are reluctant to leave their homes.”
He further added, “Three NDRF teams are deployed, with one stationed at the headquarters and two in the field. We also have two ODRF teams and four Fire Department teams at work.”
Suspension of Fishing Activities
Bhadrak Assistant Fisheries Officer, Sandeep Kumar Behera, announced that fishing has been prohibited until October 26 due to the impending cyclone. “In Bhadrak’s jurisdiction, there are 911 registered boats and 10 FLCs, and all boats have been docked at the landing center. Fishing is prohibited until October 26,” he told ANI.
Port Operations Halted
On Wednesday, Dhamra Port Chief Executive Officer Devendra Thakkar announced the suspension of all port operations and the evacuation of the entire workforce ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall.
“As per the IMD prediction, Cyclone Dana will make landfall near Dhamra Port. The port has implemented a comprehensive SOP to handle the cyclone. We have already stopped all port functions, and the entire workforce has been evacuated,” Thakkar said.
Fire and Rescue Teams Mobilized
Odisha Fire Services Director General, Sudhanshu Sarangi, said they have deployed 182 teams, comprising nearly 2,000 personnel, to deal with the cyclone.
“We are fully prepared for the cyclone. Our 182 Fire and Rescue teams will cover all 14 affected districts. We also have 20 NDRF teams, 400 State Disaster Force personnel, and additional teams mobilized from the Forest Department,” Sarangi informed ANI.
Flight Operations Suspended
Bhubaneswar Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan announced that flight operations will be suspended for 17 hours from October 24 to October 25 due to the approaching cyclone.
“Cyclone Dana is expected to affect Odisha and West Bengal coasts, and Bhubaneswar will experience strong winds and heavy rainfall. As a precaution, flight operations will be suspended from October 24 to 9 a.m. on October 25. Around 45 flights will be canceled, affected, or delayed,” Pradhan stated.