Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall in Odisha on October 24. Due to Dana, the India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in the state.
Odisha is on high alert, and Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said on Monday that the government is prepared. “ The Odisha government is prepared in both the energy and agriculture departments; apart from that, the revenue department is also totally prepared. We have taken our reviews, and the department has issued necessary instructions to the concerned officers and others. Their leaves have been cancelled, and they’ve all been told to be on high alert,” said the Deputy CM to ANI.
The Low Pressure Area over the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea movedwest-nortwestwards and lay as Well marked low pressure area over eastcentral Bay of Bengal at 1130 hours IST oftoday, the 21st October 2024. It is very likely to move… pic.twitter.com/wvVA2wAuv3
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 21, 2024
The government has announced the closure of schools in 14 districts from October 23 to 25. This decision is a precautionary measure ahead of the severe storm, which is expected to land soon.
Schools to remain closed in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagargh and Cuttack districts from October 23-25 in view of the impending cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal. pic.twitter.com/IF911e04oR
— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024
“Given the potential threat posed by Cyclone Dana, schools in the identified districts will remain closed from October 23 to 25, 2024, as a precautionary step. Necessary actions are to be taken, and the Education Department has been informed accordingly,” stated SRC Singh.
Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak will be regions mainly affected by the cyclone. “The basic issue is that even the Meteorological Department cannot predict and project which way the cyclone will go. They are estimating that it may move towards North Odisha. Three districts, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Bhadrak, maybe the main ones affected. The rest of the coastal districts like Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Ganjam and others may receive heavy rainfall,” he said.
Mentioning that advisories have been given to various officers to prepare for evacuation, the deputy CM added, “Basic advisories have been given to all the agricultural officers and the district collectors and everybody to be prepared to ensure that whatever rainwater comes is quickly evacuated. “
Tourists To Avoid Puri
Suresh Pujari, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, has urged authorities to ensure that tourists and devotees vacate the coastal city starting October 22 to avoid the storm’s imminent effects. “We must prioritise public safety and request that visitors leave the area promptly,” said Pujari.
Earlier today, IMD said that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is very likely to intensify into a depression by October 22, move towards Odisha and West Bengal coasts on October 24 and become a severe cyclonic storm while passing between Puri and Sagar island (West Bengal). “Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of 24th and early morning of 25th October 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” said a post by the IMD.
