Cyclone Dana: 3 lakh people evacuated in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said more than 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places by Wednesday evening in view of cyclone Dana that barrels toward the state's coastal region, threatening to impact nearly half of its population.

He reviewed the government’s preparedness for the cyclone which is likely to cross the Odisha coast, close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, early on Friday.

“Three districts are likely to be severely affected. Steps are being taken to evacuate people from danger zones...So far, 30 per cent of the targeted 10 lakh people have been evacuated...the remaining will be taken to safety by 11 am on Thursday," the chief minister said.

Cyclonic storm 'Dana', formed over east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, is set to bring heavy rainfall in several southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, the IMD said.

The government had on Tuesday set a target to evacuate 10,60,336 people from 14 districts.

"However, the focus is now only on the coastal belt which is likely to be impacted by the cyclone," an official said.

Those who have been evacuated are being provided with dry and cooked food and all other arrangements have been made in the cyclone shelters, he said.

The chief minister claimed that the state government was fully prepared to tackle the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm and urged the people to remain safe and not to panic.

“The government is fully prepared to tackle the situation. You are in safe hands,” Majhi said to the public through the media.

The chief minister said he has deputed ministers to various districts and experienced officers to handle cyclone management.

Majhi said Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri districts will mostly bear the brunt of the cyclone.

“If the cyclone's path is changed, other districts are likely to be affected. The government is ready for that situation,” he said.

The chief minister also visited the emergency control room of the Special Relief Commissioner. He was apprised of various satellite information and the emergency communication system.

Several trains cancelled

Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled a large number of trains on October 24 and 25, in view of the cyclone.

The storm is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal and make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The cyclone lay 420 km southeast of Paradip, 450 km south-southeast of Dhamara and 500 km south-southeast of Sagar Island at 8.30 am on Wednesday, it said.

The Met warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy downpours in isolated places in the south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts on October 24 and 25.

Advising fishermen not to venture into the sea from October 23 to 25, the Met warned that wind speed is likely to reach 60 kmph along and off Odisha-West Bengal coasts from October 23 and gradually increase to 120 kmph, from October 24 night till October 25 morning.

More than 170 express and passenger trains running through South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction have been cancelled in view of the severe cyclonic storm, an official said.

The trains cancelled were scheduled to depart their originating stations between October 23 and 27, the SER official said, adding that more trains running through the SER zone may be cancelled if the situation demands.

The Kolkata-headquartered SER zone is spread across West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.

The Eastern Railway (ER) will not operate any EMU local train from Sealdah station in its south and Hasnabad sections from 8 pm on October 24 till 10 am on October 25 in view of the cyclonic storm 'Dana' over the Bay of Bengal, an official said.

The official said that the last train from Hasnabad and Namkhana stations, which are close to the coastal areas in North and South 24 Parganas districts, will depart towards Sealdah by 7 pm on October 24.

The ER also cancelled 68 suburban trains in its Howrah division on October 25, he said.

Ferry services in the Sunderbans area spread over North and South 24 Parganas districts and also across River Hooghly in Kolkata and adjoining areas will remain cancelled in view of the impending inclement weather, officials said.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has opened a control room at its headquarters here and cancelled the leaves of all essential staff to tackle any emergency.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it is on high alert and has mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency over the Bay of Bengal.

It said the ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergencies.

The NDRF said it has so far deployed 13 teams across south Bengal to respond to any emergency situation.

West Bengal Power Minister Aroop Biswas held a video conference with district power officials to coordinate preparedness to tackle any eventuality owing to the cyclonic storm, an official said.

Biswas sought to assure the public that round-the-clock assistance and services by power department officials would be provided in the event of any power disruption.

Biswas also held a meeting with officials of the power department and private utility CESC, which serves Kolkata and some adjoining areas.

The power department announced helpline numbers 8900793503, 19221 (WBSEDCL) and 1912 (CESC) for the public to call in case of any emergency.

Inputs from PTI.