Bhubaneswar: In anticipation of Cyclone Dana, which is brewing over the Bay of Bengal, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the cancellation of 197 long-distance trains, most of which pass through Odisha. The cancellations are a precautionary measure, with the trains scheduled to remain off track between October 23 and 25.
The cancellations include 85 trains on the UP line and 93 on the Down line, as the region braces for the approaching cyclonic storm. Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall between the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal during October 24-25, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD has predicted wind speeds of 100-120 kmph during the landfall, with the possibility of severe rainfall and strong winds impacting coastal regions in both Odisha and West Bengal.
The IMD has reported that the low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards, developing into a depression. This system is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23, and further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by October 24 over the northwest Bay of Bengal.
The cyclone is expected to cross between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal between the night of October 24 and the morning of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm.
A detailed list of the canceled trains ECoR Cyclone Bulletin .