On Friday, eastern India experienced heavy rain and high winds as Tropical Cyclone Dana made landfall along the northern coast of Odisha state. The storm, equivalent to a tropical storm in the Atlantic basin, brought winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph) and was located about 250 kilometers southwest of Kolkata.
Dana resulted in rainfall between 50-150 millimeters across Odisha and West Bengal state, with the highest total reported in the town of Chandbali. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Prior to landfall, authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, closed schools, and canceled transportation services in anticipation of the storm's impact. The India Meteorological Department issued a red rainfall warning for parts of Odisha and West Bengal.
Odisha's Chief Minister mentioned that around 300,000 individuals had been evacuated from vulnerable areas, with plans to evacuate over 1 million people from 14 districts. Aid and rescue teams have been deployed to assist in the affected regions.
India's eastern coasts have a history of cyclones, with the number of intense storms increasing in recent years. Last year marked India's deadliest cyclone season, resulting in significant loss of life and damage.
Dana is expected to weaken as it moves west through Odisha, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall along its path over the weekend.
