“Over 200 Trains Cancelled and Flights Suspended as Cyclone Dana Approaches; Odisha and Bengal on High Alert”

As Cyclone Dana heads toward the Odisha coast, with landfall expected by October 25, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reported that over 30% of the targeted 1 million people have been evacuated to safety by Wednesday evening. The state is working to evacuate residents from several coastal districts, with approximately 3-4 lakh people already relocated from identified ‘danger zones.’

In West Bengal, over 1.14 lakh individuals have also been moved to shelters as a precautionary measure. The government is ramping up efforts to ensure the safety of those in vulnerable areas ahead of the cyclone’s arrival.

Cyclone Dana, with wind speeds projected to reach 120 km/h (75 mph), is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha by Friday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclonic storm, which developed over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, is also forecast to bring heavy rainfall to several districts in southern West Bengal, including Kolkata.In response to the impending cyclone, the Eastern and South Eastern Railways have canceled a significant number of train services for October 24 and 25.