Kolkata: Oct 24:
Cyclonic storm Dana is rapidly approaching India’s Odisha coast, expected to make landfall early Friday morning, bringing heavy rains and thunderstorms to the region.
The cyclone is set to drench coastal Odisha and southern West Bengal, with nearly half of Odisha’s population potentially at risk following landfall, Hindustan Times reports.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, after assessing the state’s preparedness, stated that only 30% of residents in identified “danger zones,” approximately 300,000 to 400,000 people, had been evacuated by Wednesday evening. The evacuation of all high-risk areas is scheduled to continue Thursday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that Cyclone Dana will make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port early Friday, with the landfall process beginning on the night of Thursday.
IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra warned that wind speeds could reach 120kmph during landfall.
Odisha is expected to experience a multi-hazard scenario, with very heavy rainfall and a tidal surge of up to two metre anticipated to hit the region during the cyclone’s landfall.
