Page 45 - West Bengal

Govt must extend support to states affected by Cyclone Dana: Congress

With the cyclonic storm Dana making a landfall in Odisha and impacting West Bengal and other eastern coastal regions, the Congress on Friday urged the government to extend comprehensive support to affected states and deploy all preventive and emergency measures to ensure public safety. The IMD said the landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm Dana was complete on Friday morning and the system took at least eight and half hours to enter the landmass. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Cyclone Dana's landfall in Odisha and its impact on West Bengal and other eastern coastal regions necessitates utmost preparedness and swift action. "The Union Government must extend comprehensive support to affected states, deploying all necessary preventive and emergency measures to ensure public safety," he said in a post on X. "I appeal to all Congress workers to provide assistance to those in need," Kharge said. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also urged the centra

Cyclone Dana: 216K people moved to relief camps, says CM Mamata Banerjee

Addressing a press conference Chief Minister Mamata said, "Some districtsare affected badly due to cyclone, especially kaccha houses

Cyclone Dana triggers widespread waterlogging in Kolkata, KMC on high alert

Large parts of Kolkata faced severe waterlogging during the morning hours of Friday as cyclone Dana brought torrential rain in its aftermath, inundating areas across the city. According to the regional Met office in Alipore, Kolkata received over 100 mm of rainfall till 11.30 am on Friday over the previous 24 hours. Knee-deep water at several thoroughfares in south and central parts of the city hampered traffic movement in Bhawanipur, New Market, Hazra, Dharmatala, and Behala areas. Reports of waterlogging were also received from Thanthania Kalibari, Mahatma Gandhi Road, VIP Road, Park Circus, Dum Dum and parts of New Town in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Significant flooding was also seen inside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters in Esplanade area, while patients, staff and health workers were found wading through ankle-deep water at SSKM Hospital, one of the state's primary referral hospitals, causing major inconvenience to visitors and triggering

Cyclone Dana hits Odisha and West Bengal: Know latest updates

Cyclone Dana began its landfall on Odisha’s coast late Thursday, October 24, bringing heavy rain and disruption with it. Watch the video to know the latest updates.

Govt's role to enable conditions to boost exports: WB industry secretary

The West Bengal government on Friday said its export and logistics policies will strengthen the state's export sector, which currently generates approximately USD 11.7 billion in merchandise exports. At the launch of the Kolkata chapter of the National Centre for Export Promotion (NCEP), Bengal Industry and Commerce Secretary Vandana Yadav highlighted that engineering goods exports alone account for nearly USD 3.5 billion. Addressing industry representatives at the Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF), Yadav emphasised that the policies are designed to create favourable conditions for the private sector, which drives 100 per cent of the state's exports. "The government's role is to enable conditions whereby you can export more," Yadav said, noting that the focus is on sustaining traditional sectors like the foundry industry while integrating modern, knowledge-based methods. She described the establishment of the NCEP as a timely initiative to enhance traditional skills and provide

'No casualties' reported during cyclone Dana, says Odisha CM Majhi

Several roads were blocked in the area after trees were uprooted following strong winds and heavy downpours

Ports ministry takes precautionary measures as Cyclone Dana approaches

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) on Thursday said it has initiated comprehensive safety measures to safeguard ports, vessels, and personnel in response to cyclone Dana. Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur, chaired a detailed review meeting to assess the preparedness of the Ministry, the Directorate General of Shipping, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Thakur praised the proactive measures taken by the concerned agencies and urged them to stay vigilant in monitoring the situation as the cyclone intensifies, according to an official statement. The cyclone, currently centered over the East-central Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify and make landfall between Odisha and West Bengal on the night of October 24, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph. The ministry has directed that all dredgers, barges, and support crafts in Paradip Port be secured for heavy weather. According to the statement, ...

Telcos activate intra-circle roaming as Cyclone Dana set to hit Odisha

Telecom service providers in Odisha have activated intra-circle roaming in seven districts of the state which were put under red-warning' for cyclone Dana, a minister said on Thursday. State Electronic and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the intra-circle roaming allows telecom operators to use each other's network and such an arrangement has been activated in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Cuttack districts since 8 am. As per a circular issued by the Department of Telecommunication, the intra-circle roaming facility has been activated among all four service providersBSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone, he said. "With the activation of the facility, telecom users can avail uninterrupted service in the seven districts," he said. DG sets have been made available at all telecom towers to manage the situation if there is an electricity failure, the minister said. The telecom service providers have also kept their technical teams ready to repair any da

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

Flights suspended in WB's Kolkata, Odisha as Cyclone Dana approaches

Both states have closed schools in the areas that are expected to be bear the brunt of the storm and asked fishermen not to venture out to sea

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

Cyclone Dana update: Cyclone Dana is moving towards the Odisha-West Bengal coastline and will make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port on Friday

Dana to bring very heavy rain in south Bengal; over 170 trains cancelled

Cyclonic storm 'Dana', formed over east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, is set to bring heavy rainfall in several southern West Bengal districts, including Kolkata, the IMD said. Eastern and South Eastern railways cancelled a large number of trains on October 24 and 25, in view of the cyclone. The storm is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal and make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha early Friday with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The cyclone lay 420 km southeast of Paradip, 450 km south-southeast of Dhamara and 500 km south-southeast of Sagar Island at 8.30 am on Wednesday, it said. The Met warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy downpours in isolated places in the south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly districts on October 24 and 25. Advisin

Cyclone Dana: WB Rajbhavan sets up force, control room to assist people

Governor CV Anand Bose called an emergency meeting of experts and the core team

Bengal evacuates 114,000 people as Cyclone Dana approaches Odisha coast

More than 1.14 lakh people in West Bengal have been evacuated to safer shelters so far, with severe cyclone 'Dana' approaching the adjacent Odisha coast, officials said on Wednesday. The cyclone, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 120 kmph (75 mph), is likely to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In anticipation of the storm, flight operations at Kolkata airport will be suspended for 15 hours from 6 pm on Thursday to 9 am on Friday, while Eastern Railway has cancelled 190 local trains in its Sealdah division from 8 pm on Thursday to 10 am on Friday to ensure passenger safety. Coastal districts in both Odisha and West Bengal are preparing for heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds on October 24 and 25. "Landfall will begin on the night of October 24 and continue till the morning of October 25. The maximum wind speed during this time is likely to be around 120 kmph," IMD ...

Cyclone Dana latest updates: Odisha and West Bengal brace for impact

Odisha and West Bengal governments are taking proactive measures as Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall soon. Watch the video to know the latest updates.

Cyclone Dana: 178 trains cancelled; evacuations begin in Odisha, Bengal

Cyclone Dana update: East Coast Railways cancels 178 trains as cyclone nears Odisha and Bengal; authorities begin large-scale evacuations; schools closed in coastal districts from October 23 to 26

Mamata urges Bangladesh to release 84 jailed Bengal fishermen after arrests

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she wants the Bangladesh government to release the 84 fishermen from the state, who were jailed in the neighbouring country for illegally crossing the international border. During an interaction with the journalists at the state secretariat, the Bengal CM said that India has a very good friendship" with the neighbouring country. "Two fishing trawlers have been caught in Bangladesh because they entered their jurisdiction (recently). Thirty-six fishermen were arrested and are now in jail. Even after this incident, three more trawlers with 48 fishermen somehow again crossed the border to reach Bangladesh after which they were also arrested and imprisoned," Banerjee said. The Bengal CM said that the trawlers could have lost their ways or there could be some other reasons. "We have to find out whether they went there mistakenly or due to some other reasons. We are doing whatever can be done legally," she said. Banerjee said tha

Bengal govt forms task force to ensure safety of doctors, health workers

The West Bengal government on Tuesday constituted a state-level task force to ensure safety and security of healthcare professionals in the state and improve the quality of services, a notification said. The task force was set up after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised junior doctors of such a measure during a meeting, he said. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant will be the chairperson of the task force, while Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, Health Secretary NS Nigam and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma will be part of it. "In pursuance of the Government of West Bengal's commitment to enhancing the quality of healthcare services across the state, and in the view of the safety, security, and grievances of healthcare professionals, the state government hereby constitutes a state-level task force," an order signed by Pant stated. It mentioned that there would be two representatives from senior and junior resident doctors, one

Congress announces candidates for Bengal bypolls in 6 constituencies

The Congress on Tuesday announced candidates for six assembly constituencies in West Bengal where bypolls will be held on November 13. The Congress nominees for the bypolls are Paresh Nath Sarkar for Naihati and Habib Reza Chowdhury for Haroa in North 24 Parganas, Bikash Champro Mary for Madarihat in Alipurduar, Shyamal Kumar Ghosh for Medinipur in West Medinipur, Tusharkanti Sannigrahi for Taldangra in Bankura, and Harihar Roy Singha for Sitai in Cooch Behar district. The electoral contest is expected to be a litmus test for all major political parties following the doctors' protests over the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The stage is set for a four-cornered contest, as the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which had fought elections in alliance with the Congress in previous polls since 2021, announced candidates for five seats on Monday, including one for the CPI(ML). The Left Front is likely to support the Indian Secular Front (ISF) candid

Cyclone Dana: Odisha, Bengal to evacuate people; Coast Guard on high alert

As Odisha and West Bengal are bracing for a severe cyclonic storm, governments of both states started evacuating people and while deciding to close educational institutions in vulnerable areas. With half of Odisha's population likely to be affected by the impending cyclone that could cross the east coast, the state government has planned to shift over 10 lakh people from 3,000 villages in 14 districts to relief camps, according to an official statement. The Indian Coast Guard said it was on high alert and had mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency owing to the cyclone that will bring torrential rain in the two neighbouring states. A depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression on Tuesday evening and is likely to become a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts in the early hours of October 25 with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph, according to the IMD. IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said tha