Cyclone Dana Landfall: PM Modi Dials Odisha CM To Take Stock Of Situation, Assures Help As Storm Nears Coast | Highlights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the state's preparedness for the approaching cyclone Dana with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and also reassured central support. PM Modi also reviewed the state's preparedness for the approaching cyclone Dana with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and reassured central support.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is monitoring the cyclone 'Dana' situation that is expected to make landfall between Odisha and the West Bengal coast on Thursday midnight. Earlier in the day, CM Mamata Banerjee said that she would be monitoring the situation."I will be staying in Nabanna tonight till the time of landfall (of cyclone 'Dana')," said Mamata Banerjee.

Flight services at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) have been suspended owing to the impending severe Cyclone Dana which will hit the Odisha Coast on October 24 at midnight. According to IANS quoting sources, around 40 flights have been suspended from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25.

Bangladesh has issued an alert over the severe cyclonic storm Dana that is heading towards its coastlines, according to a special bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.The special bulletin issued on Thursday morning said the cyclone was centred about 595 km southwest of Bangladesh's Chattogram seaport, some 242 km southeast of the capital Dhaka.

Bengal is on high alert due to cyclone 'Dana'. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will monitor the situation from the state secretariat Navanna throughout Thursday night and will give necessary instructions to the administrative officials. A control room has also been opened in the state secretariat, whose helpline number is 033 22143526. About 400 trains running in or passing through cyclone-prone areas have been cancelled.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said that all the necessary preparations to achieve zero casualties and tackle the impact of the impending severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' have been completed. He also held discussions with the Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Khordha and Jajpur over the progress regarding preparations for cyclone.

"East Coast Railway is fully geared to face the cyclone...Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed that we should have minimum impact on the passenger services and maximum preparedness for the safety of passengers... We are stationing our Emergency response teams, earth-moving machinery, monsoon materials...War rooms are functioning in the railway board...No passenger train will be travelling in the cyclone-affected zones...We have diverted or short terminated or cancelled around 203 trains...Special emphasis is being laid on Bhubaneswar to Bhadrak and Paradeep sections...Response teams have been stationed there...We have helpline numbers for the passengers and information regarding train cancellation and diversion is being published in media...," said General Manager At East Coast Railway.

Cyclone Dana LIVE: Kolkata airport authorities started making arrangements to ensure safety of people and planes and infrastructure at the facility. Flight operations at the airport will be suspended for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday. All entry and exit doors of the terminal building will be sealed after the last flight departs from the Kolkata airport while the aircraft parked on the bays will be tied up, airport Director Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria said.

The Odisha state government has accelerated evacuation efforts in coastal districts. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted a review meeting and instructed officials to achieve “zero casualties” during the natural disaster.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for severe Cyclone Dana at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari was also present at the meeting.

The district administration is distributing bottled water to people living in various relief camps. In addition, food arrangements have also been made in the camps.

Cyclone Dana is moving toward the Kendrapara coast. Meanwhile, the Brahmani River is in spate due to heavy rain in Odisha. 

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Wednesday informed that they are trying to create awareness for cyclone DANA in districts of Odisha including Mahakalpada and Kendrapara. The NDRF team is going door-to-door with loudspeakers making people aware of the upcoming cyclonic storm, ANI reported.

On Thursday morning, the coastal belt of Odisha faced heavy rainfall and strong winds as the severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' moved closer to the state's coast, according to the IMD. The sea conditions remained rough, PTI reported. 

A red alert has been issued in three coastal districts of Odisha due to the storm "Dana." Continuous rain has been occurring since this morning in the districts of Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore. People living in low-lying areas are filled with fear. Balasore's District Collector, Mayur Suryavanshi, reported that 31,000 people have been moved to temporary shelters, and arrangements for food and water have also been made for them.

Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar airport authorities have decided to suspend flight operations for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday owing to the cyclone

The administration and police are on full alert regarding Cyclone Dana. Teams from the administration and police are evacuating residents from vulnerable areas in Dhamra and Bhadrak. People are being moved to cyclone shelter sites.

Odisha has made all necessary preparations for Cyclone Dana. Minister Rabi Narayan Naik stated, "Odisha is a cyclone-prone region... We have arranged water, food, and shelter... There will be no issues as we have made all arrangements. NDRF and fire brigade teams have been deployed... We have been sent to Balasore by the Chief Minister."

The impact of Cyclone Dana has started to show. Coastal districts have begun experiencing heavy rain accompanied by strong winds. Reports have emerged of trees falling in several places in Puri district, including the Konark and Astaranga areas. In some places, power services have been disrupted. Upon receiving information, the fire brigade team arrived at the scene and cleared the fallen trees. Meanwhile, the electricity department's team is working to restore power services. Due to heavy rainfall, the Konark Temple has been closed to visitors.

“The cyclone Dana has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm last midnight and it has been moving north-westward with a speed 12km/hr during the last 6 hours and now it is lying over central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal,” said Manorama Mohanty, Director IMD, as per ANI.

Indian Coast Guard’s North East Region teams have launched preventive measures ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall. “@IndiaCoastGuardRegion (North East) has initiated preventive measures ahead of Cyclone 'DANA', expected to make landfall off #WestBengal and #Odisha between 24-25 Oct 24. Our ships, helicopters, and Dornier aircraft are fully prepared for assistance, rescue and relief operations,” the X post read.

In view of the impending landfall of Cyclone Dana and its effects predicted from the midnight of October 23 to the morning of October 26, the West Bengal Rajbhavan has set up a task force and control room to assist the public in this hour of need.

Stressing on the preparations for Cyclone 'Dana', Odisha Fire Services Director General, Sudhanshu Sarangi said that they have 182 teams which is nearly about 2000 people and they are fully geared up to deal with the cyclone.

Odisha CM Mohan Manjhi on Wednesday conducted meeting to review preparedness for the rapidly approaching Dana Cyclone. “I reviewed the preparedness in the office of the Special Relief Commissioner to deal with possible cyclone 'Dana'. The government is fully prepared to deal with the storm. All the departments are working in good coordination to ensure 'Zero Casualty' in safeguarding the lives, providing relief, giving priority to rescue operations. Do not panic and follow the information provided by the government. Together we must weather this storm successfully,” he posted on X.