Cyclone Dana has officially made landfall along the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal, leaving thousands on high alert as it brings strong winds and heavy rainfall to both states. This severe cyclonic storm intensified rapidly before crashing down between the Bhitarkanika National Park and the Dhamra port late Thursday night and early Friday morning, causing extensive preparations across local governments.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the cyclone's center was located roughly 50 km east-northeast of Paradip, Odisha, with wind speeds reaching between 100 and 120 km/h at the time of landfall. The cyclone's landfall process is expected to continue through Friday morning, with continued monitoring from meteorological services.
Authorities responded to the impending storm with wide-scale evacuations. Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, indicated they successfully evacuated close to 1 million locals across 14 districts, and the government had established numerous temporary relief camps. Meanwhile, West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, managed evacuation efforts parallel to Odisha's, bringing over 300,000 people to safety from coastal areas.
Both states have ramped up their disaster management resources substantially. Schools, colleges, and public transportation systems across impacted regions were ordered shut down. Banerjee noted the deployment of 13 battalions from the state disaster management force and 14 from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
"Every possible effort should be made to protect lives and property," urged Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, highlighting the importance of government support and citizen safety measures.
Simultaneously, the railways and airlines had to adjust to the cyclone's arrival. Several trains—over 200—were canceled as flights to and from Kolkata and Bhubaneswar were halted from Thursday evening until just after the storm made landfall.
Upon the storm's approach, initial weather alerts prompted immediate actions; this included power disruptions across several districts as heavy rainfall—specifically between 156 and 158.6 mm of rain—flooded various areas. Reports of significant impacts, such as downed trees blocking roads and large debris, emerged from Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Balasore, underscoring the severity of Cyclone Dana.
Locals shared apprehension about the cyclone's aftermath. An elderly resident of Purba Medinipur, Gouri Jana, reflected on her experiences with past storms, stating, "We lost everything... It took us a year to rebuild our mud house. Every time we come here, we wonder whether our home will be there when we return." Her sentiment reverberated through many communities prepared for the worst.
More concerning were predictions from the IMD about storm surges reaching heights of around 1 to 2 meters, potentially inundate low-lying areas. Affected districts included Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore, which saw rapid response measures put in place pre-landfall.
Even as the cyclone's fierce winds begin to subside, officials remain vigilant for flooding and additional emergency services deployment. Odisha's preparations included over 7,000 cyclone shelters, with medical teams on standby to treat those displaced. The state also activated intra-circle roaming for telecom services, ensuring connectivity remained uninterrupted even amid storm conditions.
Assessments made shortly after the cyclone began to hit indicated the storm weakened as it moved across land, losing some energy but prompting heavy to very heavy rainfall within both states, primarily affecting the 24 Parganas regions of Bengal. Roads remained blocked alongside downed power lines, providing evidence of the storm’s fierce impact.
The cyclone has also emphasized growing concerns around the frequency of such storms intensified by climate change, as local communities see increasingly severe weather patterns. With Cyclone Amphan being another harrowing example just four years prior, scientists and meteorologists alert authorities about potential increased cyclone occurrences triggered by global warming.
Odisha’s government continues to monitor the situation closely, ensuring teams engage with those affected and challenged by the cyclone. The continued output of local government updates aims to provide actionable intelligence amid circumstances moving forward.
The intensity of Cyclone Dana has presented dual challenges. Responding to disaster preparedness and recovery must also adapt to changes brought by climate impacts, creating more difficulties for populations already facing the gnawing repercussions of extreme weather. Nevertheless, efforts to secure lives and property remain on the forefront as both states look to recover.
