Kolkata/Bhubaneswar, Oct 23 – A deep depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana’ on Wednesday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is projected to move northwest, intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, and cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 kmph.
At 5:30 am, the cyclone was located 560 km southeast of Paradip and 630 km south-southeast of Sagar Island. The IMD advised fishermen to avoid the sea from October 23 to 25, warning of wind speeds increasing from 60 kmph on October 23 to between 100-120 kmph by October 24 night through the morning of October 25.
More than 150 express and passenger trains under the South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction have been cancelled from October 23 to 25 due to the approaching storm, with additional cancellations possible if the situation worsens. The SER zone, headquartered in Kolkata, covers parts of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is on high alert, mobilizing vessels and aircraft to respond to emergencies. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed 13 teams across southern Bengal to handle potential crises.
The IMD predicts the cyclone will bring very heavy rainfall to South Bengal on October 24 and 25. Coastal districts like South 24 Parganas, Paschim and Purba Medinipur, and Jhargram are expected to experience extremely heavy downpours. Additionally, Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Purulia, and Bankura may see heavy to very heavy rainfall during this period.
