Odisha Braces for Cyclone Dana with Evacuation Plan for 10 Lakh Residents in Coastal Areas

Cyclone Dana is rapidly approaching the Odisha coast, posing a threat to nearly half of the state's population. The government is urgently implementing a large-scale evacuation plan to relocate approximately 10 lakh people from coastal districts to safer areas. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that by Wednesday evening, only 30% of those in danger zones, around 3-4 lakh people, had been evacuated.

Majhi assured residents that they are in capable hands and urged them not to panic. He mentioned that all necessary arrangements have been made at cyclone shelters. "Do not panic and stay safe. You people are in safe hands," he said. The evacuation process is expected to be completed by 11 am on Thursday.

IMD's Forecast and Warnings

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts Cyclone Dana will make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port early Friday. The landfall process will begin on the night of October 24 and continue until the morning of October 25, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 kmph, according to IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

Mohapatra explained that landfall is typically a slow process, taking about 5-6 hours. During this time, heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surges will peak. The IMD bulletin at 9:45 pm reported that Cyclone Dana was moving northwest at 12 kmph over the Bay of Bengal.

Impact on Coastal Districts

The cyclone is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 24 morning, affecting north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island. Wind speeds could reach 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph. The IMD warned of potential hazards such as tree uprooting, damage to kutcha houses, and infrastructure destruction.

Low-lying areas in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts are likely to face flooding. IMD scientist Umashankar Das advised evacuating residents from these regions due to anticipated wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and heavy rainfall during landfall.

Government Preparedness

The state government has identified vulnerable districts based on risk levels. Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore are high-risk zones with wind speeds up to 120 kmph. Mayurbhanj falls into the second category with winds at 80-90 kmph. Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, and Jajpur are in the third category with winds at 60-80 kmph.

Puri, Khurda (including Bhubaneswar), Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar are in the fourth category with winds at 60-70 kmph. To ensure safety, 288 rescue teams from NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services have been deployed across affected districts.

Rainfall Predictions

The IMD forecasts significant rainfall across Odisha due to Cyclone Dana. Light to moderate rain is expected in most places starting October 23 evening. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is predicted in isolated areas like Balasore and Bhadrak.

On October 24 and 25, heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in several districts. Some areas may experience extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 21 cm in places like Balasore and Mayurbhanj.

Suspension of Activities

With the cyclone's approach, various activities have been suspended as a precautionary measure. These include operations at Orissa High Court, Biju Patnaik International Airport, Paradip and Dhamara ports, educational institutions, among others.

The IMD has prohibited all marine activities until the cyclone passes. Fishermen returned to shore by Tuesday evening as instructed by authorities.

Parts of Kendrapara and Bhadrak experienced rain on Wednesday afternoon as Cyclone Dana's outer bands began affecting the eastern coastline. As the cyclone nears Odisha's coast, preparations continue to mitigate its impact on residents and infrastructure.