BHUBANESWAR: Heavy rain and gusty winds began in several districts of Odisha on Thursday as severe cyclone Dana approached the coast, moving at a speed of 12 km per hour in the Bay of Bengal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the severe cyclone was centered about 210 km southeast of Paradip, 240 km south-southeast of Dhamara, and 310 km south of Sagar Island, West Bengal, at 5.30 am on Thursday.
The IMD reported that cyclone Dana is likely to move northwestward and cross the coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island, near Bhitarkanika and Dhamara, during the night from Thursday to Friday, with wind speeds of 100-110 km/h, gusting to 120 km/h.
“After making landfall, there may be a slight change in the predicted path of the cyclone, and it is likely to recurve slightly and move into interior Odisha,” said Manorama Mohanty, director of IMD’s regional center in Bhubaneswar.
Evacuations from vulnerable areas began on Wednesday and are ongoing. “The next 48 hours are crucial for Odisha, as the cyclone is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra on Thursday night and Friday morning. People who have not left their homes are requested to come to cyclone shelters, where all arrangements have been made,” said Suresh Pujari, the revenue and disaster management minister.
IMD sources indicated that rainfall has started in districts like Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri, while high tides have also been observed along the coasts, advising fishermen and the public to stay away from the sea.
The IMD issued a warning for a storm surge of 1 to 2 meters above astronomical tide, which is likely to inundate low-lying areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts during landfall. A storm surge of 0.5 to 1 meter is expected along the coast of Jagatsinghpur district at that time.
Patrolling teams have been deployed at various beaches, especially in Puri, Konark, and Paradip. Many elderly and ailing individuals have been relocated to cyclone shelters as wind speeds and rainfall intensity have begun to increase in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Jagatsinghpur districts. Paradip received 62.9 mm of rainfall, followed by 46.2 mm in Chandbali, according to official sources.
The impact of severe cyclone Dana is expected to affect the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal, IMD sources reported.
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Read MoreMinati Singha is a correspondent at The Times of India, and covers education, health, art, culture and lifestyle trends. She is fun-loving and adventurous, with a ‘never say no’ attitude. Her hobbies include reading novels, listening to music and watching movies.
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