Cyclone Dana Hits Bengal-Odisha: Heavy Rain, Rescue Efforts

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Cyclone Dana brings heavy rains and strong winds (110 km/h) to Odisha and Bengal.
• Nearly 600,000 people evacuated to safety with zero casualties reported.
• Flight operations resume at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports after temporary suspension.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Cyclone Dana hit the coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal, bringing extremely heavy rains and gusty winds up to 110 km/h. Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hailed the success of the ‘zero casualty’ mission, with approximately 600,000 people relocated to safe areas. The landfall process, which began Thursday midnight, concluded around 8:30 am Friday as the cyclone weakened and shifted northwards.

In affected areas like Bhadrak and Dhamra, there were multiple tree falls and structural damages. Schools and other institutions remained closed in anticipation of severe weather. Both Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports suspended operations from Thursday evening to Friday morning but have since resumed. Odisha’s proactive measures ensured no casualties were reported.

The Chief Minister monitored the situation from the State Emergency Control Room, directing officials and ministers to implement all necessary measures. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee closely followed developments as well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah offered their support to both state governments.

The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall for Bengal regions like North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Kolkata, with rain likely to extend to parts of Jharkhand. Fishermen are advised to avoid the Bay of Bengal until further notice, as safety precautions remain in effect.

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