Cyclone Dana Approaches: Rainfall Begins as Authorities Mobilize for Safety

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, October 23, 2024, Kolkata : As Cyclone Dana makes its presence felt, the skies over West Bengal have turned ominously heavy since Wednesday morning, bringing with it the onset of rain across the region. The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm early Wednesday and is currently charting a course toward the Odisha coast.

According to Delhi's Mausam Bhavan, the cyclone is moving northwest at a speed of 15 km per hour. As of now, Paradwip in Odisha is approximately 520 km away, while Sagardwip in West Bengal is 600 km distant, and Khepupara in Bangladesh is about 610 km from the storm's center.

The Alipur Meteorological Department confirmed that the low-pressure system transformed into a cyclonic storm at 5:30 AM. Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall near Odisha's Dhamara port between late Thursday night and early Friday morning, with wind speeds projected to exceed 100 to 110 km/h, possibly reaching up to 120 km/h.

In preparation for the cyclone's impact, local administrations in East Medinipur and South 24 Parganas have implemented precautionary measures. Public announcements are being made using microphones to alert coastal residents, particularly in high-risk areas such as Mandarmani, Tajpur, Digha, and Shankarpur, where the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed.

Coastal regions including Sagardwip, Namkhana, Patharpratima, and Bakkhali have been under strict surveillance, with a ban on sea access instituted in Gangasagar, Fraserganj, and Bakkhali to ensure public safety. While the full extent of Cyclone Dana's impact remains uncertain, authorities are on high alert and have mobilized all necessary resources to mitigate risks.

As the storm approaches, residents are urged to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols issued by local authorities. The situation will be closely monitored as the cyclone progresses, with updates to be provided as necessary.