Bhubaneswar, October 22: The well-marked low-pressure system over the east-central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The depression is expected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm, named Cyclone Dana, with landfall projected along the Odisha-West Bengal coast late on October 24 or early October 25.
In its latest bulletin, IMD said that the depression over Eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved slowly west-northwestwards with a speed of 4 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 1130 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).
“The system is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 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 to morning of 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph,” it said.
The storm is forecast to escalate further into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 24, with peak wind speeds reaching 100-110 km/h and gusts up to 120 km/h. The cyclone is likely to make landfall between Puri (Odisha) and Sagar Island (West Bengal) during the night of October 24 or the early hours of October 25.
In preparation for the cyclone, the Odisha Government has ordered schools to close in affected districts from October 23 to 25. The districts include Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh, and Cuttack.
Similarly, rescue operations have been ramped up, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, and State Fire services being stationed in vulnerable areas. The Central Government has also allocated a helicopter for any potential rescue missions.
The IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Odisha starting on October 23, with rainfall intensifying further on October 24 and 25. The peak impact of Cyclone Dana is expected during these days, especially in coastal areas.
