Schools Shut, NDRF On Standby, Trains Cancelled: Bengal, Odisha Prepare For Cyclone Dana Landfall

Cyclone Dana: All the schools and colleges will remain closed in West Bengal and Odisha from October 23. The severe cyclonic storm is likely to hit Eastern Coast in the early hours of October 25.

Fishermen shift their boats in preparations for Cyclone Dana in Puri.

Source : PTI

As Odisha and West Bengal brace for a severe cyclonic storm, the state governments in both states have announced a series of measures including the closure of schools and evacuating people in vulnerable areas.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday said it was on high alert and mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency due to the cyclone.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said that the entire eastern coast from Puri and West Bengal coast is likely to be affected by the impending cyclone Dana.

According to the met department a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25. Meanwhile, the wind speed is expected to be between 100-110 km per hour to 120 km per hour.

Schools To Remain Closed From Oct 23-26

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 in view of the cyclone.

"Schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure. We do not want to take any risk. Schools and colleges are sometimes used as shelters for people," Banerjee said in Kolkata.

In Odisha, the schools and colleges will remain closed in 14 districts from October 23-25. 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 said.

NDRF Teams Deployed

In Odisha, the state government has sought 10 more additional teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Moreover, 17 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams will be deployed in 10 districts likely to be affected by the cyclone.   

#WATCH | Bhubaneshwar, Odisha | On Cyclone Dana, DG Fire Services, Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi says, "Sixty teams of Odisha Fire department, Twenty teams of NDRF and Seventeen teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force will be sent to their respective locations...We have all the… pic.twitter.com/wlbiVkfHMY

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024

In West Bengal, the NDRF has deployed 13 teams so far to respond to any situation. The police have been directed to intensify patrolling in villages where the people will be evacuated to cyclone shelters.

Trains Cancelled In Bengal, Odisha

Over 150 express and passenger trains running through South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been cancelled in view of the severe cyclonic storm.

@RailMinIndia
In response to the impending Cyclone DANA, the following trains originating and passing through @EastCoastRail will remain cancelled...
Passengers are requested to kindly note.. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/FeD9s6BOmM

— DRM KhurdaRoad (@DRMKhurdaRoad) October 22, 2024

The trains cancelled include Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, Kamakhya-Yesvantpur AC Express, Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express, Howrah-Bhubaneswar Shatabdi Express and Howrah-Yesvantpur Express, a SER official said. The cancelled trains were scheduled to depart their originating stations from October 23 to 25. 

More trains running through the SER zone are expected to be cancelled even as the Eastern Railway will operate an emergency control room from October 24 to 25. 

Shelter Houses Prepared

Odisha has prepared around 800 cyclone shelters for people to be evacuated from vulnerable areas. Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said officials have so far visited 250 cyclone relief centres where the people will be housed after evacuation. Food, water, medicine, electricity and other essentials are kept in readiness for the people to be evacuated due to the impending cyclone.