With Cyclone Dana expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra tonight, the Odisha government has ramped up evacuation efforts, moving around 4 lakh people to cyclone shelters across the state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged citizens to remain calm, assuring them that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure their safety.
“The state government is fully prepared to tackle whatever situation arises. I urge people not to panic. You are in safe hands. We have been closely monitoring the situation with the help of multiple systems,” Majhi said after reviewing the situation.
Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari added that the state has identified over 3,000 vulnerable locations across 14 districts, primarily along the coastal belt, and has initiated evacuation procedures.
“As many as 10,60,336 people are likely to be evacuated before Cyclone Dana makes landfall,” The Indian Express quoted Pujari as saying.
ALSO READ: With 100-120 kmph wind speeds, Cyclone Dana likely to make landfall between Odisha, West Bengal tonight
Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts are expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone, which is projected to bring wind speeds of 100-120 kmph along with heavy to very heavy rainfall. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecasted rainfall in other coastal and interior districts on Thursday and Friday.
A close watch on Cyclone Dana
To ensure the smooth execution of relief and rescue operations, the state government has assigned nine districts to nine ministers, with senior IAS officers closely monitoring the situation. The Odisha government has also predicted a storm surge of about 1 metre above astronomical tide during the cyclone’s landfall, which may cause inundation in low-lying areas of Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts.
ALSO READ: Cyclone Dana halts flight, train services in West Bengal; Kolkata airport suspends operations
Given that the predicted landfall is near Bhitarkanika, home to the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India after the Sundarbans, authorities are also concerned about potential threats to wildlife. Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Mangrove Wildlife Division in Rajnagar, said, “If the water level increases, there are chances that crocodiles may move to human settlements. We have formed two teams, each comprising seven persons, and provided them with equipment to rescue crocodiles. Five other teams have also been formed for the rescue of snakes from human habitations.”
2 days’ closure of Orissa High Court
In response to the cyclone, the Orissa High Court has announced its closure on Thursday and Friday, with November 30 and December 7 declared as working days to compensate for the shutdown. Additionally, the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has postponed the preliminary test of the Odisha Civil Service Exam 2023, which was scheduled for October 27. A new date will be announced after seven days.
As Odisha braces for Cyclone Dana’s landfall, authorities continue to prioritize the safety of the public and wildlife while urging residents to follow all safety guidelines and remain indoors.
