In brief
Over a million residents are being moved to temporary shelters as authorities brace for severe weather.
The Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal are ramping up emergency measures, evacuating nearly 1.5 million residents in anticipation of Cyclone Dana, which is set to make landfall within the next 24 hours. With the storm expected to escalate into a severe cyclonic storm, transportation services have already been disrupted, resulting in numerous train and flight cancellations.The cyclone is forecasted to hit coastal regions with dangerous wind speeds ranging between 100-120 km/h (62-74 mph). Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assured the public that extensive safety measures have been put into place for residents in the cyclone’s projected path. Temporary relief camps equipped with food, water, and medical facilities have been established to accommodate those displaced.Odisha is set to evacuate over a million individuals from 14 districts, while nearby West Bengal is relocating approximately 300,000 people from vulnerable coastal areas. Local officials and rescue teams are on high alert, with schools in coastal locations already closed in preparation for the impending threat.The Meteorological Department is closely monitoring the situation and has warned that “heavy to very heavy” rainfall is anticipated along the coasts in the coming 24 hours. Flight operations at Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports have been suspended from Thursday evening to Friday morning as a precautionary measure, and over 200 trains have been canceled as part of the disaster preparedness efforts.Fishermen have been advised to refrain from sea activities during this dangerous weather period. Preparations have also been made at Paradip port in Odisha to ensure local staff and residents remain safe. Historically, Odisha and West Bengal face frequent severe storms, with past cyclones causing extensive devastation, including a tragic toll of over 10,000 lives in the deadly 1999 cyclone that struck Odisha. As the region braces for Cyclone Dana, the government urges residents to stay safe and remain calm.
