The governments of West Bengal and Odisha have begun to evacuate residents and have decided to close schools in regions that are at risk due to Cyclone Dana, which is expected to hit the coasts early on October 25 with winds of 100–110 km/h with gusts of up to 120 km/h.

With half of the state's population expected to be impacted by the upcoming cyclone, the Odisha government has decided to relocate over 10 lakh people from 3,000 villages spread over 14 districts to relief camps, according to reports.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee said they are ready to face the cyclone Dana.

The transportation has also been impacted by Cyclone Dana, as multiple trains have been canceled. On October 24, train No. 06087 from Tirunelveli Junction to Shalimar Special, which was supposed to depart Tirunelveli, was canceled. Likewise, the Superfast Express train that was supposed to depart Bhubaneswar on October 25 and travel to Rameswaram (Rmanathapuram) has been canceled.

 

Major updates: 

 

1. Coast Guard Alert: The Indian Coast Guard is on high alert, mobilizing vessels and aircraft to address any emergencies as Cyclone Dana approaches, bringing heavy rainfall to Odisha and West Bengal.

2. Impact Zone: According to Mrutunjay Mohapatra, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the entire eastern coast from Puri in Odisha to Sagar Island in West Bengal is expected to be affected by the cyclone.

3. Government Coordination: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has called on all MLAs to coordinate with local administrations for effective rescue and relief operations.

4. Evacuation Plans: The government has identified multipurpose cyclone shelters and flood shelters to accommodate vulnerable populations, with provisions for food, water, sanitation, and health services.

5. District Alerts: Based on IMD forecasts, 14 districts in Odisha, including Angul, Puri, and Cuttack, are on alert due to the cyclone's projected impact.

6. School Closures: All educational institutions in the 14 affected districts of Odisha will be closed from October 23 to 25. In West Bengal, schools in seven districts will close from October 23 to 26.

7. Train Cancellations: Due to the cyclone, over 150 express and passenger trains in the South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been canceled, and East Coast Railways has also suspended 198 trains operating in and out of Odisha.

8. Fishermen Advisory: The IMD has advised fishermen to stay off the sea from October 23 to 25, as wind speeds are expected to reach 60 km/h along the Odisha-West Bengal coast and will increase after that.

9. Relief Centers: More than 5,000 relief centers with modern amenities have been established, and around 10 lakh people are expected to be evacuated to these facilities.

10. Airport Preparations: Kolkata airport authorities are preparing for potential disruptions caused by the cyclone, conducting inspections of infrastructure and drainage systems to ensure readiness.

Pujari stated, that the government has compiled a list of pregnant women expected to give birth in two weeks, and to prevent disaster-related issues, they are being moved to an adjacent hospital.

"To date, over 5,000 relief centers have been established with state-of-the-art amenities to give children food, milk, and water as well as medications for those who have been hurt. About 10 lakh evacuations are anticipated," he added.

Cyclone Dana is anticipated to make landfall on October 25, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 km/h.