Authorities in India are evacuating nearly 1.5 million people from the eastern states of Odisha and West Bengal as Cyclone Dana approaches. Thousands of relief workers have been deployed to minimise damage, with the storm expected to make landfall within 24 hours.
India’s weather department has predicted wind speeds of 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph) as the storm intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal by Thursday evening.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reassured residents that comprehensive safety arrangements have been made. “We are fully prepared to deal with the storm. Don’t panic, be safe and be careful,” he said.
In Odisha, over a million people are being evacuated from 14 districts, while West Bengal is moving more than 300,000 from coastal areas. Temporary relief camps providing food, water, and health facilities have been set up, and authorities have placed officials and rescue teams on high alert. Schools in the coastal regions have also been closed as a precaution.
Transportation has already been affected, with over 200 trains canceled and flight operations suspended in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata from Thursday evening to Friday morning. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the sea, and contingency plans are in place for Paradip port in Odisha to ensure the safety of staff and residents.
Odisha and West Bengal face severe cyclones annually. In 1999, a cyclone in Odisha claimed over 10,000 lives, and last year, a cyclone killed at least 16 people across India and Bangladesh.
Melissa Enoch
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