Cyclone Dana Highlights: Odisha govt plans to shift over 10 lakh people, schools shut in Bengal as deep depression likely to intensify into cyclone tomorrow

Schools, colleges and other educational institutions will remain closed in 14 districts of Odisha from October 23-25 in view of a possible cyclonic storm, an official order said.

“All schools, colleges, universities, technical/professional institutions, polytechnics and ITIs located in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack, and Khurda will remain closed for three days (October 23 to 25),” the official order added.

The depression is likely to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 and a severe cyclonic storm by October 25, impacting coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha. (PTI)

On Tuesday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it was on high alert and had mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency owing to a cyclonic storm that was likely to form over the Bay of Bengal.

A depression over the east-central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph, according to the IMD.

"The ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergency situations," a statement said.

It said the ICG is on high alert, with its dedicated personnel and assets ready to provide assistance, rescue and relief. (PTI)

The IMD on Tuesday said the current depression will turn into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday and then intensify further to strike the Odisha-Bengal coast between Puri and Sagar Island on October 24-25.

In view of cyclone 'Dana', the price of vegetables including potato and onion has increased in Odisha markets as consumers resorted to panic buying, traders were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

What'prices have risen, where?

At Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack, the price of potato has increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg on Tuesday. The price of onion has also increased to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 40 in the market, which is one of the largest vegetable markets in Odisha.

Tomato is being sold for Rs 80 to 100 in the local markets in Bhubaneswar, traders said.

The price of other vegetables like bins, brinjal, ladyfinger, cauliflower has also increased by Rs 10 to 20 per kilogramme.

The IMD put out a status update on the depression, currently moving west-northwestwards:

The depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 6 kmph during past 3 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 22nd October, over the same region near latitude 15.5° N   and longitude    91.0°E, about 700 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 750 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal) and 730 km south-southeast of Khepupara (Bangladesh). It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October, 2024 over eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, continuing to move northwestwards, it is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal by morning of 24th and cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during night of 24th and morning of 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.

Heavy rainfall warning issued in coastal Odisha for October 23, IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy told ANI

Extremely heavy rainfall is expected on October 24 and 25 in the Gangetic West Bengal and coastal Odisha.

"The Odisha government is in total preparedness in both the energy and agriculture departments, apart from that the revenue department is also totally prepared. We have taken our reviews, the department has issued necessary instructions to the concerned officers and others. Their leaves have been cancelled and they've all been told to be on high alert," Odisha deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo told ANI.

Following a review preparedness meeting on Monday, he also said that multiple departments in the state have been instructed to be on high alert as the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall in the state due to cyclone 'Dana'.

Hemanta Sharma, Principal Secretary of Odisha's Department of Energy, has said that energy grids and emergency transmission towers in the districts expected to be affected by Cyclone Dana are being monitored. (ANI)

In its daily bulletin this morning, the IMD said that the low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards.

It concentrated into a depression and lay centred at 730 km southeast of Paradip in Odisha around 5.30 am.

"It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, 2024, over east-central Bay of Bengal," the bulletin said.

The scheduled visit of President Droupadi Murmu to Odisha from Wednesday has also been postponed.

President Murmu was scheduled to visit Bangriposi, Uparbeda, Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district as well as Puri and Bhubaneswar October 23 to October 25.

She was expected to reach Bangriposi in Mayurbhanj district on October 23 and lay foundation stones for three railway lines -- Bangiriposi-Gorumahisani, Buramara-Chakulia, and Badampahar-Kendujhargarh.

Schools to remain closed in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagargh and Cuttack districts from October 23-25 in view of the impending cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal.

It's been 25 years since the 'Super Cyclone' ravaged the coastal state of Odisha on Oct 29, 1999 and the state is bracing itself for another cyclonic storm, Dana, this year.

Odisha has faced numerous severe cyclonic storms in October historically, with the super cyclone of 1999 claiming over 10,000 lives. While the government has enhanced its disaster management strategies to minimize human casualties during storms like Cyclone Phailin in 2013, Hudhud in 2014, Titli in 2018, and Fani in 2019, these events still resulted in significant damage to both public and private property.

"On behalf of the administration, I want to assure the people of the district that we are fully prepared," stated Bhadrak District Collector Dilip Routrai regarding the preparations for Cyclone Dana. "While the IMD has not clearly defined the exact location of the landfall or its intensity, we anticipate wind speeds could reach up to 110 km/h during the cyclone. As for Bhadrak, no warnings have been issued for tomorrow, but a yellow warning is in effect for October 23." (PTI)

President Droupadi Murmu's planned three-day visit to Odisha, set to begin on Wednesday, has been postponed due to the impending cyclone expected to strike the state's coast on October 25.

Murmu was slated to visit various locations including Bangriposi, Uparbeda, Rairangpur, Puri, and Bhubaneswar during her stay. A communication from the President's secretariat to the Odisha chief secretary stated, "I am directed to convey that due to unavoidable circumstances, the visit of the Hon'ble President from 23rd to 25th October, 2024, stands postponed."

Sources confirmed that the decision was made in light of the approaching cyclone. President Murmu was scheduled to arrive at Bangriposi Helipad in Mayurbhanj district on October 23 to lay the foundation for three new railway lines and other developmental projects.

The following day, she was expected to visit Puri to offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple and participate in the 75th anniversary celebration of Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, one of India's oldest Ayurvedic medical colleges. Additionally, she was to attend the 40th convocation of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. (PTI)

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100-120 km/h expected to strike the Odisha coast by October 25, the state government has issued an advisory urging tourists to evacuate the coastal town of Puri promptly.

The advisory was announced by State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari following a review meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday.

Pujari emphasized the urgency, stating, "Tourists currently in Puri should leave the seaside town soon, as it is likely to be impacted by the severe cyclonic storm." He also instructed the Puri district administration to discourage visitors from traveling to the town from Tuesday until after the cyclone has passed, to mitigate potential damage. (PTI)