The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into Cyclone Dana by October 23. The cyclone is projected to make landfall between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal on the night of October 24. Odisha’s authorities are taking extensive measures to prepare for its impact.
In light of the expected severity, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured that the state is fully prepared for the cyclone’s arrival. The state government has devised a comprehensive evacuation plan for residents of vulnerable coastal areas. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and local fire services are on standby, ready to be deployed as needed. Key districts expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone include Kendrapara, Balasore, and Bhadrak.
Schools across 14 districts in Odisha will remain closed from October 23 to 25 as a safety measure. The state’s special relief commissioner, DK Singh, has instructed the School and Mass Education Department to ensure the closures and facilitate emergency evacuations if necessary. The IMD has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging from 7 to 20 cm, with isolated instances of extremely heavy downpours exceeding 20 cm. Thunderstorms and lightning are also expected in areas such as Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur.
Fishermen in Puri have already begun moving their boats to safer areas. Odisha’s Director General of Police, Sudhansu Sekhar Sadangi, confirmed that police forces are closely monitoring the cyclone’s path. “We are tracking whether it will impact Bangladesh or Odisha. Our actions will depend on its trajectory, but preparations are in place,” Sadangi said. He also mentioned efforts to bring back fishermen still at sea.
The neighboring state of West Bengal is also on high alert. Heavy rainfall is expected in the coastal districts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur, as well as North and South 24 Parganas on October 23. Meanwhile, the scheduled inauguration of the ₹450 crore modern passenger terminal at Petrapole, on the Indo-Bangladesh border, has been postponed due to the cyclone warnings.
As the region braces for Cyclone Dana, authorities urge residents in affected areas to follow safety advisories and remain alert for further updates.
