Cyclone Dana weakens significantly; West Bengal reports 4 fatalities while Odisha escapes with none!

Cyclone Dana made a powerful landfall in eastern India late on October 24, 2024, striking between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamara Port in Odisha, around 160 km from Sagar Islands in West Bengal.

Though both states had prepared extensively, the cyclone's impact was felt most acutely in West Bengal, especially Kolkata, where a torrent of rain lashed the city overnight. South Kolkata, including areas like Jodhpur Park and Ballygunge, experienced heavy rainfall, registering 163 mm and 124 mm, respectively. This was Kolkata’s second-highest recorded rainfall for a single day in October since 2013.

West Bengal, in general, faced a greater human toll. Four people tragically lost their lives due to rain-related incidents, including three deaths by electrocution in waterlogged streets in South Kolkata and South 24 Parganas. Another fatality was reported in Howrah, where a municipal worker was found dead, potentially from drowning in a submerged street. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded by mobilising safety measures, with around 210,000 residents remaining in shelters as heavy rain continued into the next day. Banerjee is also expected to conduct an aerial survey of the affected districts.

In Kolkata, the storm and high tide combined to cause severe waterlogging, leading to the suspension of flights and train services as water filled central business districts, major hospitals, and residential neighbourhoods. Despite drainage efforts by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the persistent rain left many areas submerged for hours. Authorities are currently focused on restoring normalcy, clearing roads, and resuming essential services as Cyclone Dana begins to lose strength over land.

Meanwhile, Odisha's proactive measures played a crucial role in achieving zero casualties. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, nearly 600,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the storm, including vulnerable groups like pregnant women, who were transferred to specialised health centres. Even as the storm generated torrential rains and winds over Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Dhamara, this swift evacuation effort, combined with robust emergency services, proved effective in minimising harm. The IMD confirmed that Cyclone Dana’s wind speeds were most intense at its outer edges, sparing Odisha from the worst while bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Dhamra.

The system has now weakened into a well marked low pressure area. It is expected to weaken further and become insignificant in the next 12 hours. However, the impact of Cyclone Dana has served as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to intense storms and the critical importance of coordinated evacuation and relief operations.