Cyclone Dana news updates: 300,000 evacuated in Odisha; coastal regions receive heavy rain

Cyclone Dana updates: Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port on Oct 25. Catch all the latest news updates on Cyclone Dana here

Multiple regions in West Bengal received moderate to heavy rain today morning, as severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' inched closer to the state's coast. The cyclonic storm is set to bring heavy rainfall in several south Bengal districts, including Kolkata. 

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that 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. The government had on Tuesday set a target to evacuate 10,60,336 people from 14 districts. 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.

  Fishing has been suspended from October 23-25 with wind speeds expected to reach 60 km/h along the Odisha-West Bengal coasts, intensifying to 120 km/h by the night of October 24. Flight operations have been suspended for 15 hours, starting at 6:00 pm today until 9:00 am on Friday. Bhubaneswar airport will also halt operations for 16 hours, from 5:00 pm today until 9:00 am on October 25. The weather system lay 280 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha) and 370 km south-southeast of Sagar Island (West Bengal) at 2.30 am, it said in a bulletin. 

4:47 PM

'Govt is prepared', says Odisha Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan on severe cyclonic storm Dana

"The Government is prepared. All concerned departments of the Government are in position and all officers & workers of the various departments of the Government are in place and ready to tackle any eventuality," Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said today.

4:43 PM

Severe cyclone 'Dana' moves closer to Odisha coast, evacuation efforts expedited

Severe cyclonic storm Dana' lay within 200 km of the Odisha coast on Thursday afternoon, as several parts of the state experienced heavy rain and squally winds, with the sea condition remaining rough, the IMD said. The state government also expedited evacuation efforts in the coastal districts, as Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a review meeting and directed officials to ensure zero casualty due to the natural calamity.

4:15 PM

Kolkata airport prepares to tackle impact of approaching cyclone Dana

Kolkata airport authorities started making arrangements to ensure safety of people and planes and infrastructure at the facility. Flight operations at the airport will be suspended for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday. All entry and exit doors of the terminal building will be sealed after the last flight departs from the Kolkata airport while the aircraft parked on the bays will be tied up, airport Director Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria said.

2:09 PM

Coastal Odisha receives heavy rain as severe cyclone 'Dana' approaches

The coastal belt of Odisha experienced heavy rain and squally winds on Thursday morning with the sea condition remaining rough, as severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana' approached closer to the state's coast, the IMD said.The cyclone is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour (kmph), it said.

1:33 PM

News update: Have issue heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for south Jharkhand districts', says IMD

1:03 PM

Odisha CM reviews preparedness for Cyclone Dana

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed the preparedness for severe Cyclone Dana at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar

11:22 AM

Cyclone Dana updates: Flight and train services hit, IMD issues red alert

Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea between October 23 and 25, with wind speeds expected to reach 60 km/h along the Odisha-West Bengal coasts, increasing to 120 km/h by the night of October 24. Read here for more details.

11:11 AM

Cyclone Dana update: Flights suspended in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar

According to officials, flights to and from the capital cities of Odisha and West Bengal, including Kolkata, will be suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning.

10:37 AM

Cyclone Dana LIVE news: 300,000 people evacuated in Odisha by Wednesday evening

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said more than 30 per cent of the targeted 1 million 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 affect nearly half of its population.