• By Nidhi Giri
  • Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:20 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Cyclone Dana is likley to bring heavy rainfall to various districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas, Jhargram, and other areas in Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for two days (October 24-25) in Kolkata. The city is expected to experience 'heavy to very heavy rainfall' due to the influence of the impending cyclonic storm, which is predicted to make landfall between Puri and the Sagar Islands on the night of October 24-25.

According to the weather office, a low-pressure area formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea early this morning, around 5:30 am, as per reports. This low-pressure system is forecast to intensify into a depression by tomorrow morning and evolve into a cyclonic storm by 23 October over the east-central Bay of Bengal.

The system is expected to reach the northwest Bay of Bengal, near the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, by the morning of October 24. It will cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts, making landfall as Cyclone Dana with wind speeds between 100-110 km/h, gusting up to 120 km/h.

READ MORE: Jewar Airport To Run International Flights To Dubai, Zurich, Singapore; Domestic Bookings Open In March | Details

Cyclone Dana Impact

In response to the impending storm, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has taken precautionary measures. They have decided to cancel the leaves of drainage department employees to ensure that all pumping stations operate round-the-clock. Additionally, extra staff will be deployed at penstock gates, and senior officials will monitor the situation through the civic body control room throughout the cyclone period.

READ MORE: PM Modi Meets Putin, Says India Ready To Provide Help In Peaceful Resolution Of Russia-Ukraine War

When And Where Will Cyclone Dana Land?

IMD has issued a warning that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal could develop into Cyclone Dana by October 23. The storm is expected to make landfall between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal on the night of October 24.

In preparation for the cyclone, fishermen in Puri were seen moving their boats to safer locations on Monday. Odisha's Director General of Police, Sudhansu Sekhar Sadangi, assured that the state is ready to handle the situation.

“We are monitoring the cyclone's path, whether it will impact Bangladesh or Odisha. Our actions will depend on its trajectory, but preparations are currently in place,” Sadangi stated.