The Highlights:
It is going to land between the dates of 24 and 26, October, 2024. There is a significant threat of damaging the coastal areas of Odisha and West Bengal through Cyclone Dana as it forms in Bay of Bengal. Met-agencies are vigilant about this development, and people are asked to get ready for heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and floods which are likely to occur after the cyclone.
Probable Landfall and Weather Warnings
According to IMD reports, Cyclone Dana is gathering force as it moves through the Bay of Bengal and could reach the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal at a velocity of 120 km/h. It would land close to Balasore in Odisha and Digha in West Bengal, where the authorities are gearing up to tackle the wrath of the storm. Meteorological models from both the United States and the European Union indicate that the cyclone is likely to develop. Agencies abroad assign an 80 percent chance for its intensification.
The cyclone is related to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which has increased the rainfall activity in the area, making it a stormy affair. The IMD has issued yellow warnings due to heavy to very heavy rain and thunderstorm at isolated places in South West Bengal and Northern Coastal Odisha.
Trains To Be Called Off And Plan To Evacuate
Cyclone Dana is to hit land shortly; the Indian Railways has canceled several train services, mainly those passing through Odisha and West Bengal. Until now, numerous long distance trains have already been canceled or diverted to avoid storm affected areas. It has been requested of all the passengers to keep themselves well aware of the new railway schedules, and people have also been asked not to travel unless it is very important.
Apart from this, rescue teams and disaster response units have been deployed to vulnerable areas. NDRF personnel have been deployed at strategic locations in the two states where they can promptly report for duty. Coastal village people are also subject to evacuation orders, and the villagers are being evacuated into temporary shelters that have been put up in schools and community halls.
Impact on Agriculture and Infrastructure
Cyclone Dana is going to devastate the agricultural sector, especially in West Bengal. The farmers have been advised to harvest the standing crops of paddy and vegetables in view of heavy rainfalls and related flooding. Coastal infrastructure, including ports and fishery operations, stands a risk too. The fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea, and all shipping operations have been temporarily suspended.
Power cuts are likely to take place and, accordingly, power utilities are preparing themselves to face the disruptions and later restore the services after the cyclone touches the land. Electricity boards in the districts that are affected by Odisha as well as West Bengal have been consulting the district as well as local authority to ensure easy restoration of the power infrastructure.
Government and Public Reaction
Both state governments have activated their disaster management protocols to ensure adequate supplies of food and medicines in cyclone shelters. Hospitals along the coast stand on alert, and state emergency teams are prepared for the eventualities of flooding and infrastructure collapse, both in Odisha and West Bengal.
Public warnings have been put up, advising people to stay indoors when the cyclone reaches its peak strength and to avoid travel whenever it is not terribly urgent. Schools and business establishments operating in coastal districts are most likely to close their doors as part of precautionary measures.
Historical Context and Climate Patterns
It is not uncommon to experience cyclones over the Bay of Bengal, especially during the post-monsoon season. Cyclones Yaas and Amphan are recent instances of the kind of damage severe storms can cause within a short period. Such storms have been known to recur with greater frequency and intensity with time, probably due to overall climate changes taking place in this region. Experts explain that warmer ocean temperatures are responsible for such rapid intensification of cyclones, thus making preparedness all the more important.
What’s to Happen
For residents in the possible areas that could be affected, as Cyclone Dana draws near, they should take the proper warnings from the local authorities and keep themselves posted on weather forecast. Within the next 48 hours, storm is expected to hit, hence, the attention would be on smooth evacuation of people, maintenance of essential services, and adequately responding to possible emergencies.
Authorities are appealing for calm; they stated that the impact of the cyclone on life and property will be reduced to a minimum by enforcing preemptive action – including a major evacuation and a full deployment of rescue forces.
In short, Cyclone Dana has promised to be a disaster on the coast in Odisha and West Bengal. It is likely to cause huge destruction on its own. Train cancellations, evacuation, and emergency measure are going on in the process. Both states are ready to deal with the post-storm situation.
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