In brief
In anticipation of Cyclone Dana making landfall within the next 24 hours, Indian authorities are conducting one of the largest evacuations in recent history, relocating nearly 1.5 million people from the eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal to safer areas. Amidst the approaching storm, which is expected to escalate winds to speeds of 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph), thousands of relief workers are already deployed to help mitigate damage and ensure the safety of residents.
The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that a depression forming over the Bay of Bengal will become a severe cyclonic storm very soon. Authorities are implementing precautionary measures, with schools in affected coastal regions shutting down and flight operations from key airports in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning. Additionally, over 200 train services have been canceled as part of the preparations.Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reassured the public that extensive arrangements for temporary relief camps have been set up, equipped with food, water, and medical facilities. "We are fully prepared to deal with the storm. Don't panic, be safe and be careful," he advised during a press conference. Most evacuations in Odisha are concentrated across 14 districts, while West Bengal aims to evacuate over 300,000 residents from its coastal areas. As a safety measure, fishermen have been advised to stop all sea activities and contingency protocols have been activated for Paradip port. The weather department has also forecasted "heavy to very heavy" rainfall expected along the coasts within the next day.Historically, Odisha experiences severe storms annually, with devastating impacts felt as recently as 1999 when over 10,000 lives were lost due to a cyclone in the state. Last year's cyclone resulted in 16 fatalities across India and Bangladesh, highlighting the critical nature of response efforts during such natural crises. As Cyclone Dana approaches, the joint efforts of local governments, rescue teams, and various agencies continue to focus on ensuring public safety and minimizing disaster impacts. With the situation rapidly evolving, real-time updates and alerts are being disseminated to keep communities informed and prepared.
