Bhubaneswar: The cyclonic storm "Dana" is expected to make landfall over the Odisha-West Bengal coast between October 24 and 25.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over central & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal.
Local administration and police on Thursday started to evacuate people living in vulnerable areas of Dhamra and Bhadrak in Odisha, and people are being brought to the cyclone shelter, officials said.
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IMD statement
Director IMD, Manorama Mohanty said, "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."
Evacuation underway
Bhadrak assistant fisheries officer, Sandeep Kumar Behera, said, "In Bhadrak's jurisdiction, there are 911 registered boats, 10 FLC, and all the boats have been docked in the landing centre. Fishing has been prohibited till October 26..."
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On Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi convened a meeting to assess the state's readiness for Cyclone Dana.
Arrangements in place
Charan Majhi said, "The state government is taking cyclonic storm 'Dana' very seriously. Arrangements are in place for the affected districts, including Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri."
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. (with Agency inputs)
