Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 24, 2024, 10:20 PM
Cyclone Dana: Odisha and West Bengal are on high alert regarding cyclone 'Dana', and extensive preparations are being made in both the states due to the storm. Heavy rains and strong winds have been continuing in the coastal areas of Odisha since Thursday morning. Cyclone 'Dana' is expected to hit Bhitarkanika National Park of Odisha and Dhamra port in Bhadrak district on Friday morning. During this time the wind speed is expected to reach 120 kilometers per hour.Cyclone situationThis cyclonic storm 'Dana' formed over the Bay of Bengal can affect Odisha and West Bengal as well as Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Alert has also been issued in these areas. People living around the sea areas are being sent to safe places. The speed of this cyclone moving towards the northwest is about 12 kilometers per hour, due to which it is expected to hit the coast of Odisha and West Bengal by Friday morning.Meteorological Department's warningThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that due to the cyclone, heavy rains and strong winds are expected in the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal. According to the department's bulletin, this storm can hit the coast between Puri and Sagar Island. The speed of winds during the cyclone is likely to be 100-110 kmph, which can cause damage in coastal areas.Rescue operation and relief work56 teams of NDRF have already been deployed in Odisha and West Bengal. 20 teams in Odisha and 17 teams in West Bengal have been deployed for relief work. Apart from this, nine teams each have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand, while one team has been sent to Chhattisgarh. Along with NDRF, the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) is also ready.Transport and flights affectedDue to cyclone 'Dana', flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will remain suspended from the evening of October 24 to the morning of October 25. There will be no flight at the airport for 16 hours. At the same time, Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway have canceled 190 local trains and more than 150 express and passenger trains.Preparedness for emergencyThe Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is on high alert and ships and aircraft have been prepared for any emergency. The administration is constantly monitoring to ensure smooth rescue and relief operations in all the affected areas.The situation remains serious due to cyclone 'Dana', and the state administration along with the security forces is fully prepared to minimize loss of life and provide quick assistance to the affected people.