Cyclone Dana is forecasted to track northwestward, gaining strength as it transforms into a severe cyclonic storm while advancing over the northwest Bay of Bengal. Its projected path includes crossing the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal.
[My Rewrite]: Kolkata/Bhubaneswar: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a deep depression in the east-central Bay of Bengal has developed into a cyclonic storm named ‘Dana’ on Wednesday morning.
The IMD forecasts that the storm will probably progress northwestward, strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal, and make landfall between Puri and Sagar Island along the Odisha-West Bengal coasts during the early hours of October 25. Winds could reach speeds of up to 120 kmph.
At 5.30 am, the system was reported to be located 560 km to the southeast of Paradip and 630 km to the south-southeast of Sagar Island.
Cautioning fishermen against sailing out to sea between October 23 and 25, the Meteorological Department has alerted that the wind velocity could escalate to 60 kilometers per hour (kmph) along the Odisha-West Bengal coast starting October 23. The speed is expected to intensify further to 100-110 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 120 kmph, by the night of October 24 until the morning of October 25.
An official from the South Eastern Railway stated that over 150 express and passenger trains passing through its jurisdiction have been canceled due to the impact of the intense cyclonic storm.
The official from SER mentioned that the cancelled trains were supposed to leave their starting stations from October 23 to 25. Additionally, they noted that further train cancellations within the SER zone could occur based on the prevailing circumstances.
The SER zone, headquartered in Kolkata, covers the states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has announced its heightened state of readiness and has deployed its ships and aircraft to promptly address any potential emergencies in the Bay of Bengal.
The ICG has organized its ships and planes, situating them strategically for prompt reaction to potential emergencies, while the NDRF has dispatched a total of 13 teams across southern Bengal to address any urgent situations that may arise.
IMD forecasts indicate that a significant amount of rain is expected to hit southern districts of Bengal on October 24 and 25 due to the approaching storm.
Anticipate heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, including intense downpours, in the coastal regions of South 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, and Jhargram districts.
The Meteorological Department has predicted the likelihood of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Purulia, and Bankura districts from October 24 to 25.
