In anticipation of Cyclone Dana, the West Bengal government has evacuated over 159,000 residents and relocated more than 83,000 individuals to relief camps as the storm is expected to make landfall by midnight on Thursday.
According to official reports, the state has implemented extensive evacuation measures, establishing safe zones for fishing trawlers at Mohana in Digha, located in Purba Medinipur district. A control room in Howrah is actively monitoring the evolving situation ahead of the cyclone’s anticipated arrival.
The severe cyclonic storm Dana over the northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, during the midnight of October 24 to the morning of October 25, 2024, as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph.
West Bengal Disaster Management Minister Javed Ahmed Khan stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is closely overseeing the preparations. “The CM herself is monitoring it, and she will be present here tonight. The control room is open 24/7, and all agencies have been alerted to ensure effective evacuation and response,” Khan said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Banerjee reaffirmed her commitment to monitoring the situation, indicating her presence in Nabanna, the state secretariat, until the cyclone makes landfall.
Cyclone Dana is projected to hit the Odisha-West Bengal coast between October 24 and 25. In response to the crisis, West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose expressed solidarity with the state’s residents, saying, “The people of Bengal have braved many storms, and we will face Dana with confidence and patience. Bengal will stand together. India will stand together. We shall overcome.”
In a video statement, Governor Bose urged citizens to adhere to all government and disaster management directives, emphasizing that the state’s disaster response machinery is fully prepared. “We are now in a moment of crisis, but we will confront Cyclone Dana with resilience and unity,” he added.
(Inputs from ANI)