Cyclone Dana Set To Re-Curve After Landfall: MeT Department

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Cyclone Dana is likely to re-curve slightly towards west and west-south wards after landfall triggering rain in southern Odisha around October 26.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Cyclone Dana is likely to re-curve slightly towards west and west-south wards after landfall and trigger rain in southern Odisha around October 26.

However, the landfall and wind speed predications remain unchanged, informed Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.

The severe cyclone 'Dana' over central & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during the past 6 hours, and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 24th October, over northwest & adjoining central Bay of Bengal, about 260 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 290 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 350 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal), read the red message.

It is very likely to move northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) around mid-night of 24th to morning of 25th October 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.

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2nd Test: Washington, Ashwin Amongst Wickets As New Zealand Reach 201/5 At Tea

by Hemanta Pande

Pune, Oct 24: Ravichandran Ashwin took his third wicket of the innings while Washington Sundar picked two scalps in the last three overs of an engrossing second session as New Zealand reached 201/5 in 62 overs at tea on day one of the second Test against India at the MCA Stadium here on Thursday.

Resuming from 92/2 in the post-lunch session, Devon Conway started with a cracking cover drive off Jasprit Bumrah to get his fifty. He then capitalised on width from Bumrah’s deliveries by punching off the backfoot and opening the face of the bat late to get back-to-back boundaries.

From the other end, Rachin Ravindra began to find his groove by using Bumrah’s pace to run through the gap between slip and gully for four. Conway continued to be impressive with his drive and reverse sweeps, before poking at a short on a spinning away ball from Ashwin, with the edge caught by Rishabh Pant.

Ravindra took over the run-scoring mantle by lofting Ravindra Jadeja for six, before beautifully flicking Akash Deep for four more. After getting his fifty with a stylish flick going through the hands of short mid-wicket for four, Ravindra had two more boundaries coming off Akash via cut and outside edge.

The 59-run stand for the fourth wicket between Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell was brought to a halt by Washington, who turned the tide for India at the fag end of the second session with his dip and drift. Washington got a tossed-up delivery to turn away sharply from the middle stump and hit the top of the off-stump.

On outclassing Ravindra with a peach of a delivery, Washington leapt highly in the air. At the stroke of tea, Washington again brought joy to himself and the Indian team by getting a length ball to grip and turn sharply into Tom Blundell, who aimed for a flick but was castled through the gate. Big wickets from Washington in the last 10 minutes of the second session mean India have set themselves a chance to bowl out New Zealand in the final period of the day.

Brief scores: New Zealand 201/5 in 62 overs (Devon Conway 76, Rachin Ravindra 66; Ravichandran Ashwin 3-48, Washington Sundar 2-34) against India.

--IANS

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CM Majhi Chairs Meeting To Review Preparedness For Cyclone Dana

by Utkalika Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for severe Cyclone Dana at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari was also present at the meeting.

Odisha Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said that everyone is on alert in the areas where the cyclone is expected to make landfall.

Speaking to ANI, Odisha Minister Mahapatra said, "All the ministers have been given responsibilities to look after the affected areas. One IAS officer to each district has also been deployed... All are alert in those places where the cyclone is expected to make landfall. Officers are working sincerely, our party workers are also working."

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), "The severe cyclonic storm DANA (pronounced as Dana) is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during mid-night of 24th to morning of 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph."

Evacuation started earlier today for people living in Dhamara and Bhadrak in Odisha, with people being brought to the cyclone shelter, according to officials.

Additionally, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in both Odisha and West Bengal have been placed on standby.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is preparing to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in anticipation of the severe impact of Cyclone Dana along the coast of Odisha and West Bengal, according to officials.

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Indian Navy Prepares For Cyclone Dana Landfall, Two Ships On Standby To Aid With Relief Efforts

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Oct 24: With Cyclone Dana expected to make landfall anytime on Thursday, in Odisha and West Bengal, the Indian Navy has been preparing to conduct any Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations needed.

Additionally, the Navy has confirmed that ships equipped with supplies and rescue teams have also been kept at standby for any relief efforts.

According to a statement by the Navy, the Eastern Naval command, while coordinating with Naval officers-in-charge (NOIC) in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, have activated a comprehensive disaster response mechanism.

"The command is working closely with units such as the Base Victualling Yard (BVY), Material Organisation and the naval hospital INHS Kalyani to provide essential supplies and medical support if sought by the State administration," read the statement.

The Navy has sent essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency relief materials by road to various locations which are likely to be affected due to cyclone Dana.

"Flood Relief and Diving Teams are being mobilised to assist in coordinated rescue and relief operations if needed," read the statement.

According to a post by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm is moving northwest with a speed of 12 kilometers per hour for the past few hours. The storm was centred around 240 kilometers south of Odisha and 310 kilometers south of West Bengal.

Evacuation started earlier today for people living in Dhamara and Bhadrak in Odisha, with people being brought to the cyclone shelter, according to officials.

Odisha Chief Minister Charan Majhi said, "The state government is taking cyclonic storm 'Dana' very seriously. Arrangements are in place for the affected districts, including Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri."

Notably, Airport authorities said that flight operations at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata will be suspended for 15 hours starting at 6:00 PM on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of Cyclone Dana.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose also expressed solidarity with the people in the wake of Cyclone, "Bengal will stand together. India will stand together. We shall overcome," he said.