Cyclone Dana made its much-anticipated landfall on Thursday night, wreaking havoc across Odisha and West Bengal. With heavy rain and wind speeds reaching 110 kmph, the cyclone triggered widespread disruption, forcing authorities to suspend flights, evacuate thousands, and brace for further damage.
The landfall process began around midnight between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara and Dhamra in Bhadrak, Odisha. The districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur witnessed strong winds and torrential rain.
As a precautionary measure, more than 5.8 lakh people have been evacuated in Odisha alone. The state has mobilised 385 rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (
NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and fire service personnel. In addition, 150 platoons of police have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts and road clearance.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring West Bengal, the cyclone has impacted several districts, including East Midnapore and Kolkata. More than 2.43 lakh people in the state have taken shelter in relief camps. The IMD has issued a red alert for districts like East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas, while Kolkata is under an orange alert.
Flight operations at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport were suspended, affecting 309 flights between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Operations are expected to resume at 9:00 am on Friday.
What next
Cyclone Dana is presently a
severe cyclonic storm and is expected to de-intensify into a cyclonic storm by 11:30 AM today. Thereafter, it will continue to lose strength — turning into a deep depression this evening and a depression around midnight. However, the cyclone continues to pose a significant threat to life and property, with reports of uprooted trees and damage to infrastructure already emerging. Authorities remain on high alert, urging citizens to stay indoors as heavy rainfall continues across Kolkata and surrounding areas.
