Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Dana has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra in Odisha late Thursday night or early Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Thursday. According to the Regional Meteorological Department Director, Manorma Mohanty, there is a possibility that the cyclone may slightly change its course after hitting land.
As of Thursday morning, Cyclone Dana was located 210 km southeast of Paradip, 290 km south-southeast of Dhamra, and 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Island. Moving at a speed of 15 km per hour, the storm has been steadily progressing in a north-northwest direction over the last six hours. However, forecasters indicate that it could potentially shift west-west-southwest after landfall.
The IMD has predicted that wind speeds in Odisha’s Balasore, Bhadrak, and Kendrapara districts could reach 100 to 120 km per hour during landfall. The cyclone is expected to bring heavy rainfall, high tides, and potentially cause damage to trees, electric poles, and vulnerable structures like thatched houses. Coastal areas are bracing for significant impacts as the cyclone draws closer.
A red alert has been issued for several districts, including Mayurbhanj, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur, which are expected to experience heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. An orange alert is in effect for Puri, Khurdha, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar, while Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur districts are under a yellow alert.
For Friday, the IMD has issued a red alert for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, and Balasore, with an orange alert for Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, and Angul. Other districts, including Puri, Khurdha, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Nayagarh, and Boudh, are under a yellow alert for Friday, and Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Nabarangpur districts are expected to face the cyclone’s impact on Saturday.
As the cyclone approaches, authorities are urging people in affected areas to remain indoors and take necessary precautions. Disaster response teams have been mobilized, and evacuation measures are in place to minimize the impact on residents.