Cyclone Dana live updates: Storm to make landfall in Odisha, Bengal tomorrow; evacuation underway

Director IMD, Manorama Mohanty, told ANI, "The cyclone Dana has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm at midnight, and it is moving north-westward with a speed of 12 km/hr during the last 6 hours, and now it is lying over central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal... It will make landfall between midnight today and the early morning of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm, while crossing wind speed will be around 100 to 110 kilometres per hour... In the capital city, heavy rainfall is expected, wind speed will slowly increase, and the highest wind speed is likely to occur tonight."

Teams from the NDRF in both Odisha and West Bengal have been placed on standby. Additionally, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard are on high alert. (ANI)

West Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose on Thursday expressed solidarity with the people in the wake of Cyclone Dana and said that the people of Bengal have braved many storms and will face Dana with confidence and patience. He added "Bengal will stand together. India will stand together. We shall overcome." (PTI)

Odisha's Bhadrak district administration on Thursday evacuated people to cyclone shelters ahead of Cyclone Dana's landfall. The cyclone is expected to make landfall on October 25, tomorrow.

Bhadrak Collector Dilip Routrai told ANI, "We are evacuating the people from vulnerable areas. Some people are coming on their own, while some are being brought by police as they don't want to leave their homes."

Several districts of West Bengal received moderate to heavy rain on Thursday morning, as severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' inched closer to the state’s coast and that of neighbouring Odisha, the IMD said.

The cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (kmph), it said. (PTI)

More than 1.14 lakh people in West Bengal have been evacuated to safer shelters so far, with severe cyclone 'Dana' approaching the adjacent Odisha coast, officials said on Wednesday.

The cyclone, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph (75 mph), is likely to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Flight operations at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will remain suspended for 16 hours from Thursday evening in view of cyclone Dana, a statement said.

The cyclone, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph, is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

"Airport operation will be suspended from 5 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25 due to cyclone Dana," the statement said. (PTI)

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said more than 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places by Wednesday evening in view of cyclone Dana that barrels toward the state's coastal region, threatening to impact nearly half of its population.

He reviewed the government’s preparedness for the cyclone which is likely to cross the Odisha coast, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, early on Friday.

“Three districts are likely to be severely affected. Steps are being taken to evacuate people from danger zones...So far, 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated...the remaining will be taken to safety by 11 am on Thursday," the chief minister said. (PTI)

With the severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' expected to make landfall by early Friday, three ports in Odisha have issued great danger signal number 10, a senior IMD official said Wednesday.

The cyclone, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph (75 mph), is likely to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by early Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. (PTI)

The Kolkata airport authorities decided to suspend flight operations for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday in view of the possible impact of cyclone Dana, an official said.

The step was taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers, airline employees, various equipment, navigational aids and infrastructure, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said on Wednesday. (PTI)

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose said, "We are now in a moment of crisis. Cyclone Dana is nearing, but we in Bengal have braved many storms and will face it with confidence and fortitude."

“Bengal will stand together and we shall overcome. My dear brothers and sisters, please follow all instructions issued by the government and disaster management authority. Please follow dos and don'ts prescribed by them. All the disaster management machinery of the state government and the Government of India are kept well-oiled and fighting fit,” he added.

According to IMD sources, wind velocity in the districts of Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore would be 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, along with extremely heavy rainfall and tidal surge during the landfall which will take around four to five hours. (PTI)

IMD said that the landfall process of Cyclone Dana is set to commence from tonight October 24, and extend till the early hours of October 25. The landfall will bring heightened wind speeds and very heavy rains to Odisha and West Bengal.