A total of 197 trains were cancelled as well as schools and colleges were closed in several districts of Odisha and West Bengal in view of Cyclone ‘Dana’, which could hit coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha on October 25.
Flight operations remain unaffected as of now even as airport authorities in Kolkata began preparations to tackle any situation arising out of the possible cyclonic storm. West Bengal Chief Minister advised tourists from the state, who are visiting Puri in Odisha, to return home.
The governments of both Odisha and Bengal have decided to evacuate people from vulnerable areas, while the Indian Coast Guard has been put on high alert. The MeT said the severe cyclonic storm is likely to bring torrential rain to the two neighbouring states, and the entire eastern coast from Puri and West Bengal coast is likely to be impacted.
A depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25 with a wind speed of 100 to 110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). It has issued warnings advising fishermen not to venture into the sea from October 23 to 25.
Here are the latest updates:
Odisha, Bengal to evacuate people
Odisha, which is likely to bear the brunt, has kept around 800 cyclone shelters ready for people to be evacuated from vulnerable areas. Food, water, medicine, electricity and other essentials are also ready.
Apart from 800 cyclone shelters, an additional 500 temporary shelters have been made ready, including in schools and colleges. All educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, will remain closed in 14 districts from October 23 to 25.
Odisha’s revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has stressed on 100 per cent evacuation of people from vulnerable areas to ensure “zero casualty”. He said the government has also prepared a list of pregnant women expected to deliver in a fortnight, and all of them are being moved to nearby hospitals so as to avoid any difficulty during the calamity.
West Bengal said its government is ready to face the cyclone. “Schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure. We do not want to take any risk. Schools and colleges are sometimes used as shelters for people,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, adding that those residing in low-lying areas of coastal districts have been asked to move.
Coast Guard on high alert, disaster rescue teams on standby
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it was on high alert and had mobilised its vessels and aircraft to respond swiftly to any contingency owing to the cyclone. “The ICG has mobilised its vessels and aircraft, positioning them strategically to respond swiftly to any emergency situations,” a statement read.
Coast Guard personnel are working in coordination with the local administration and disaster management authorities in West Bengal and Odisha to ensure a coordinated and effective response, it said. The ICG deployed helicopters and remote operating stations at Haldia in West Bengal and Paradip in Odisha to broadcast regular weather warnings and safety advisories to fishermen and mariners.
The Odisha government sought 10 more additional teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). “The existing NDRF teams are already on the move to the possible affected districts,” Pujari said.
Apart from this, 17 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams will be deployed in 10 districts likely to be affected, said Additional Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Padmanav Behera. Three other ODRAF teams will be on standby. In West Bengal, the NDRF has deployed 13 teams so far to respond to any situation.
In Odisha, fire services will be moving to 14 districts most likely to be affected. Mock drills were conducted at the Bhubaneswar head office.
The state has also deployed six top bureaucrats in six districts – Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Baleswar and Mayurbhanj, to monitor and manage the cyclone situation. The officials are collectors of these concerned districts.
Trains taking Odisha route cancelled
South Eastern Railway has cancelled several mail and express trains connecting West Bengal and Odisha with various parts of the country. Among cancelled trains, 94 were going south via Odisha while 103 were heading east through the state.
Five trains initiating from Assam and Assam-bound trains were cancelled on Wednesday (October 23) as a precautionary measure: 12552 Kamakhya-Bengaluru AC Superfast Express; 12514 Silchar-Secunderabad Express; 22504 Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express; 12509 Bengaluru-Guwahati Express; 22503 Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express.
Kolkata airport begins preparations
Asked about the possible impact on flight operations, Kolkata airport officials said it will depend on the situation after the cyclone makes landfall. “For the moment, the airport officials are following the standard operating procedures,” Dr Pravat Ranjan Beuria, Director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
He further said standard operating procedures, such as inspection of the infrastructure and the drainage system, checking and servicing of all installations, are being carried out. “I am also scheduled to hold a meeting with various stakeholders at the airport soon,” he said.
He added: “We are expecting heavy rainfall, which may cause inundation in and around the airport premises. We are working closely with the state government to handle the situation.”
Rains likely to lash Jharkhand on Oct 24 & 25
Weather officials said heavy rain has been predicted for parts of Jharkhand on October 24 and 25. Some parts, mainly the southeast region, may also experience gusty winds at speed of 40 to 60 kmph coupled with events of lightning.
“Change in Jharkhand weather will be visible from Wednesday evening under the influence of an ensuing cyclonic system. Its actual impact might be experienced from October 24 in the state’s south-east parts with spells of rain and thundering activities. Widespread rainfall is expected across Jharkhand on October 25,” said Ranchi meteorological centre in-charge Abhishek Anand.
He said some pockets of southeast Jharkhand might also experience spells of heavy rainfall, while thunderstorms and gusty wind are also expected in some parts. The weather department asked people to be alert on October 24 and 25.
Vegetable Prices soar in Odisha markets
Traders said the price of vegetables, including potato and onion, has increased in Odisha markets as consumers resorted to panic buying amid the cyclone prediction.
At Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack, the price of potato increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg on Tuesday. The price of onion also increased to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 40 in the market, which is one of the largest vegetable markets in Odisha. Tomato is being sold for Rs 80 to 100 in the local markets in Bhubaneswar. The price of other vegetables like beans, brinjal, ladyfinger, cauliflower has also increased by Rs 10 to 20 per kg.
There was a massive rush as consumers wanted to store sufficient amounts of vegetables, especially potato and onion. Local vendors attributed the price hike to scarcity of potato-laden trucks and the anticipation of further disruptions if the cyclone makes landfall.
(With PTI inputs)
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