Cyclone Dana Moves Closer To Odisha Coast; Landfall Process To Begin Tonight

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Severe cyclonic storm Dana lay within 150 km of the Odisha coast on Thursday afternoon, as several parts of the state experienced heavy rain and squally winds, with the sea condition remaining rough, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

“The severe cyclonic storm Dana over northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 1430 hrs IST of today, about 150 km southeast of Paradip, 180 km south-southeast of Dhamara and 250 km south of Sagar Island. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri & Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika & Dhamara during mid-night of 24th to morning of 25th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” it said.

The cyclone is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (kmph), the Met Department said.

The Odisha government also expedited evacuation efforts in the coastal districts, as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a review meeting this afternoon and directed officials to ensure “zero casualty” due to the impeding cyclonic storm.