Heavy rains lash several places across Odisha as Dana approaches coast

Bhubaneswar: Incessant and heavy rains lashed several places across Odisha on Thursday under the influence of Severe Cyclonic Storm Dana.

According to IMD sources, the Severe Cyclonic Storm “DANA” over the central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal has moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 12 kmph over the past

six hours.

It is very likely to move northwestwards and cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha), during the midnight of October 24 to the morning of October 25 as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, according to the IMD.

Paradip recorded the highest rainfall of 62.9 mm, followed by Chandbali (46.2 mm), Chandanpur (29.2 mm), Kujang and Rajkanika (27 mm each), and Rajnagar (24 mm).

Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Pattamundai, Aul, Nilagiri, Soro, Betanasi, Dhamnagar, and several other places in the state since this morning.

The Odisha government has deployed 51 ODRAF and 19 NDRF teams for relief and rescue operations in the areas likely to be affected by Cyclone Dana.

The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPAI) authority has suspended flight operations from 5 PM on Thursday until 9 AM on Friday.

Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, stated that the severe cyclonic storm is very likely to recurve slightly towards the west and west-southwest after landfall. This will cause rain in southern Odisha around October 26. Wind speeds are expected to reach 100 to 120 kmph during the rainfall, especially in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara during the storm’s landfall.

The IMD has issued a red warning for Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj districts, where scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm)

with isolated extremely heavy rainfall ( >20 cm) is very likely to occur.

Gale-force winds reaching speeds of 60-70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, are currently prevailing and will gradually increase to 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph, along the north Odisha coast and the east Medinipur district of West Bengal from the afternoon of October 24 until the morning of October 25, before gradually decreasing.

Winds reaching speeds of 60-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, are also expected along the south Odisha coast and remaining coastal districts of West Bengal from the evening of October 24 until the morning of October 25, before gradually decreasing.

The sea condition is likely to be High to Very High until the morning of October 25, with gradual improvement thereafter over the east-central, west-central, and northwest Bay of Bengal.

Authorities have hoisted Great Danger Signal No. 10 (GD-10) at Puri, Dhamara/Chandbali, and Paradip. Great Danger Signal-08 (GD-08) has been replaced by Local Cautionary Signal No. 3

(LC-3) at Gopalpur port in Odisha.

The storm surge is likely to reach heights of 1.0 to 2.0 meters above the astronomical tide and is expected to inundate low-lying areas in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts of Odisha during landfall.

A storm surge of 0.5 to 1.0 meters above the astronomical tide is also likely to inundate low-lying areas in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha during landfall.

The IMD warned of major damage to thatched houses and huts, with the possibility of roofs being blown off and unattached metal sheets flying. Minor damage to power and communication lines is also expected, along with potential damage to vulnerable structures and the breaking of tree branches or uprooting of trees.

Localized flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and the closure of underpasses—particularly in urban areas—are also anticipated in the affected regions.

The cyclonic storm is likely to cause disruptions to marine and inland water transportation, particularly for small boats and trawlers, and may trigger riverine flooding in some river catchments.

The IMD has suggested the total suspension of fishing operations from October 22 to October 25 in the central and northern Bay of Bengal and advised the evacuation of people from low-lying areas to safer locations.