GUWAHATI: Cyclone Dana struck the Odisha coast today October 25, causing extensive damage by uprooting trees, disrupting power lines, and claiming one life in West Bengal. The storm made landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra with wind speeds reaching 100-110 km/h.
Cyclone Dana made landfall on the Odisha coast around midnight, with Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur districts experiencing winds of up to 110 km/h and heavy rainfall.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the landfall process concluded around 10 a.m., with the cyclone taking over eight hours to fully enter the landmass.
Dana, a name provided by Qatar, is expected to weaken in the next six hours, according to IMD forecasts.
Reports indicate significant tree uprooting and some areas experiencing flooding in Odisha. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi emphasised the state’s success with its "Zero Casualty Mission," reporting no deaths or injuries from the cyclone.
In West Bengal, one person tragically lost his life in Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas, while working on a power line during the storm. East Midnapore and parts of Kolkata also saw impacts, with waterlogging reported in various areas.
Flight services at Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport resumed operations at 8 a.m. today, following temporary suspensions as a safety measure.
Authorities in Odisha and Bengal evacuated thousands, closed schools, cancelled over 400 train services, and paused flights to prepare for the severe cyclone’s landfall.
Odisha’s government, led by CM Mohan Charan Majhi, moved approximately 5.8 lakh people to safety and deployed 385 rescue teams, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), fire services, and forest personnel.
In West Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee stated that 2,43,374 people sought refuge in cyclone relief camps. She spent Thursday night at the state secretariat, overseeing cyclone response efforts firsthand.
Both states continue to monitor the situation closely as they manage the cyclone’s aftermath and work toward restoring normalcy.