Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted the ensuing Cyclone Dana may make a landfall between Odisha's Puri and West Bengal's Sagar Island during night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.

"The Low Pressure Area over the eastcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea moved west-northwestwards and lay as Well marked low pressure area over eastcentral Bay of Bengal at 1130 hours IST of today. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by 22nd October morning and into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October, 2024 over eastcentral Bay of Bengal,” the IMD said.

Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning. Continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during night of 24th and early morning 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph," it added.

According to the IMD, heavy rainfall is expected to lash Odisha's coastline region between October 23 and October 25.

The IMD has issued a red warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) over the districts of Puri, Khordha, Ganjam on Jagatsinghpur on October 24.

Similarly, an orange weather warning has been issued over the districts of Kendrapara, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj on the day.

Odisha’s Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari today said that the State government is fully prepared to tackle Cyclone Dana.

Pujari urged the people not to panic, stating that the government has decided to deploy ODRAF and initiate the evacuation process from the vulnerable areas so far locations.

“All the necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the people,” he said.

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