Cyclone Dana: Major impacts expected over THESE districts of Odisha and West Bengal today

What started off as a minor cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal has since intensified into cyclonic storm Dana in the bay, a few hundred kilometres away from the Odisha and West Bengal coasts. With meteorological models predicting that this system will further grow into a severe cyclonic storm by the early morning hours of Thursday, the eastern coast is bracing for the worst.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Dana will cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island as a severe cyclone during the night of Thursday and Friday. This has prompted several red and orange alerts across the states.

Forecasts over Odisha

Under Dana's influence, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) at isolated places is very likely over Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Khurda districts of Odisha commencing from this evening.

Further, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm), along with extremely heavy showers (more than 21 cm) is forecast over Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Khorda and Puri districts of Odisha on October 24 and 25.

Forecasts over West Bengal

In West Bengal, up to moderate showers with heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) are forecast over most districts of the state today. Heavy to very heavy showers with extremely heavy rains are likely over South & North 24 Parganas, East & West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and Bankura districts of Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25.

Impacts expected

The districts in Odisha, including Baleswar, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khorda, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal, along with West Bengal districts such as South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, and Bankura, are likely to experience significant impacts due to the upcoming weather conditions.

Key damages expected include:

• Major damage to thatched houses and huts, with rooftops potentially being blown off and loose metal sheets becoming airborne.
• Tree branches could break, and some trees may be uprooted.
• Power and communication lines are at risk of being damaged.
• Kutcha roads are expected to suffer major damage, while Pucca roads could also be affected. Flooding of escape routes is a possibility.
• Vulnerable structures are likely to face significant damage.
• Banana and papaya trees may suffer major damage, while large dead branches may be blown off trees.
• Horticulture and standing crops are at risk from both wind damage and inundation.
• Embankments and salt pans are also vulnerable to damage.
• Localised flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and closure of underpasses in urban regions are anticipated.
• Occasional visibility reduction due to heavy rainfall could disrupt traffic, causing road delays and accidents.
• Landslides, mudslides, and other land disturbances are possible in affected areas.
• Marine and inland water transportation, including small boats and trawlers, are likely to be disrupted.
• Riverine flooding may occur in some river catchments. For updates, please check the Central Water Commission website.

Action suggested for affected districts

In the aforementioned Odisha and West Bengal districts, the following precautions are advised:

• Complete suspension of fishing activities in the Central and North Bay of Bengal from October 23rd to 25th.
• Fishermen are advised to avoid:
  
  
  • The East Central Bay of Bengal from October 23rd to 24th.
  • Adjacent areas of the West Central Bay of Bengal on October 23rd and 24th.
  • The Northwest and adjoining Northeast Bay of Bengal, as well as the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh, between October 23rd and 25th.
• Motorboat travel is considered unsafe during this period.
• Coastal hutment dwellers should be moved to safer locations.
• People in affected areas should remain indoors.
• Maritime, port, and shipping activities should be carefully regulated, both onshore and offshore.
• Coastal tourism activities should be judiciously controlled.
• Surface transport, including railways and roadways, should be regulated to avoid accidents and traffic congestion.
• Residents should avoid waterlogged areas and refrain from staying in vulnerable structures.

Ensure to check for traffic advisories and avoid travel on routes prone to congestion and waterlogging.

Cyclone Dana is expected to start de-intensifying in the evening hours on Friday, October 25. It will first go from severe cyclonic storm to cyclonic storm and then a depression within the next 12 hours.