Heavy rain lashes eastern India as Cyclone Dana makes landfall, WB reports one death

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Dana made landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra after midnight on Oct 24, bringing heavy rains and strong gusts to coastal Odisha.

One casualty has been reported in West Bengal whereas no deaths or injuries have been reported in Odisha.

Around 12:10 am, Cyclone Dana made landfall between Dhamra in the Bhadrak district and Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district.

According to Manorama Mohanty, regional director of IMD Bhubaneswar, the cyclone is expected to weaken and recurve toward the Dhenkanal and Angul districts rather than Keonjhar once the landfall process concludes.

Winds are predicted to reach 120 km/h when the center of the cyclone makes landfall, and the process is expected to take four to five hours. The Doppler weather radar at Paradip is closely monitoring the system.

According to the IMD, the cyclone is expected to gradually weaken into a deep depression over the next six hours as it moves northwest across northern Odisha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have both inquired about the state's preparations to deal with the storm's effects, according to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Approximately 584,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying, high-risk areas along the coast, Majhi said.

Additionally, the IMD forecasts isolated very heavy rainfall (over 20 cm) and scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj.

Of the 4,431 pregnant women who were moved to relief centers because of Cyclone Dana, 1,600 have given birth, according to Majhi. People took shelter, and authorities remained on high alert as the'severe' cyclonic storm Dana made landfall.

Due to intense rains and a 1.15-meter surge in sea level, trees were uprooted, electrical lines were snapped, and some areas were submerged.

The "gale-force winds" that struck the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, uprooted hundreds of trees, and beachside makeshift shops were destroyed.

Reports of standing paddy crop damage have emerged, primarily in nearby West Bengal. Parks, museums, and educational institutions are closed on Oct 25.

As global warming exacerbated by fossil fuel use continues, scientists warn that storms are becoming stronger.

In seven districts of Odisha placed under "red warning" for Cyclone Dana, telecom service providers have activated intra-circle roaming.

According to State Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling, telecom operators can utilize one another's networks through this arrangement. This agreement is currently in effect in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, and Cuttack.

In West Bengal and Odisha, Jio has activated Interconnect Roaming (ICR) to ensure that users remain connected. Customers will be able to stay connected to the available network regardless of their service provider at that moment.

To mitigate crop loss, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) has advised paddy farmers to take preventive measures.

Among other recommendations, scientists have suggested that farmers keep drainage channels open in immature paddy crops to minimize losses from waterlogging.

"Harvested rice should also be properly stacked in safer places and covered with tarpaulin to avoid further damage from prolonged rainfall," reads the advisory.

In a statement, the Shree Jagannath Shrine Administration (SJTA) said every precaution is being taken to preserve daily rituals while safeguarding the Jagannath shrine in Puri.

During the month-long 'Kartik Brata' ceremony at the shrine, which dates back to the 12th century, devotees have been cautioned to exercise caution.

The Odisha Raj Bhavan is operating a 24-hour control room in anticipation of Cyclone Dana. The phone number is 033-22001641, and the email is [email protected].

After the cyclone made landfall, flight operations at Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport, which had been closed as a precaution, resumed at 8 am on Oct 25, according to airport officials.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, emphasized the importance of taking all necessary precautions to protect people and property in the affected areas.

More than 34 districts in Bihar experienced cloud cover, and temperatures dropped by one to six degrees Celsius.

Rainfall is expected across eastern, south-central, and eastern Bihar on Oct 25, with the districts of Kosi and Seemanchal likely to see the most intense downpours.

24 districts, including Buxar, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Nawada, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Banka, Jamui, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul, and Patna, are expected to experience rain, thunderstorms, and winds of 20 to 40 km/h.

Dana's effects are expected to continue on Oct 26, with rain anticipated across northeast, north-central, and south Bihar.

Authorities are warning locals to take precautions due to expected thunderstorms, lightning, and high winds in these areas.

One death is reported in West Bengal as regions experienced significant flooding as Cyclone Dana brought heavy rains. According to the regional Met office in Alipore, Kolkata received more than 100 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours as of 11:30 am on Oct 25.

Flight operations resumed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 8 am.

Indian Railways confirmed on Oct 25 that all trains will run as scheduled, with the exception of those that were previously canceled due to the impact of Cyclone Dana in the affected regions.

According to the railway ministry, trains from the south (Visakhapatnam side) to Bhubaneswar and Howrah will continue to operate as usual.

Additionally, after being canceled, train services in the southern part of the Sealdah Division under Eastern Railway resumed around 10 am.

According to a Met Department official, the cyclonic storm Dana caused rainfall in some areas of Jharkhand.

Since the evening of Oct 24, there has been mild to moderate rainfall in the Kolhan region, which comprises the districts of West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, and East Singhbhum.