Odisha to evacuate one million people to safer place, 300 trains canceled : Valley Vision

Odisha government has planned to shift over 10 lakh people from 3,000 villages in 14 districts to relief camps, as deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm this morning and is likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm on Thursday.

The West Bengal and Odisha governments are gearing up to tackle adverse situations.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged all MLAs to coordinate relief activities and arrangements have been made for the supply of food, drinking water, lighting, sanitation and health facilities.

The state’s revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said around 5,000 shelters and relief centres have been prepared by the administration and instructions have been issued to shift people by Wednesday evening.

The state has put the government machinery on high alert and started shifting people from vulnerable areas to designated shelters prepared by the administration.To assist the local administration, the government has deployed over 20 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and several fire service personnel. While 20 NDRF teams have already been deployed, five more have been airdropped from Bhatinda in Punjab.

Parts of Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts in Odisha experienced rain and adverse weather conditions on Wednesday afternoon with the Indian Meteorological Centre (IMD) saying that the outer bands of Cyclone ‘Dana’ has begun to affect the eastern coastline.

Senior IMD scientist Umashankar Das posted on X, “According to radar data from Paradip, the outer band of Cyclone ‘Dana’ has touched the land mass in Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts.” He clarified that while the cyclone is around 500 km offshore, its outer bands, composed of clouds, can influence local weather conditions.

The IMD said Cyclone ‘Dana’ is likely to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port, a distance of around 70km, early Friday.

The preliminary test of the Odisha civil service examination, 2024, has been postponed in view of the impending cyclone Dana, which will hit the Odisha coast by October 25. According to a notice issued by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), the preliminary examination, which was scheduled to be held on October 27 has been postponed and a fresh date will be notified after seven days.

As cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra areas of Odisha, the Indian Coast Guard (North-East Region) has implemented preventive measures to “safeguard lives and property at sea,” according to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) report.

The ICG has deployed ships, aircraft, and Remote Operating Stations in West Bengal and Odisha to issue continuous weather warnings and safety advisories to fishermen and mariners, “urging them to return to shore and seek safe shelter.”

Additionally, ICG personnel are coordinating with local administrations and disaster management authorities to ensure a coordinated and effective response, the report said.

Train cancelled

More than 300 trains have been canceled: The Indian Coast Guard said it was on high alert and has assembled its vessels and aircraft to respond immediately in case of emergencies in the aftermath of expected torrential rain in both states. The ICG has deployed helicopters and remote operating stations at Haldia in West Bengal and Paradip in Odisha to broadcast regular weather warnings and safety advisories to fishermen and mariners. Given the cyclone, more than 150 express and passenger trains running through South Eastern Railway jurisdiction have been canceled. As many as 198 trains passing through and originating from Odisha have been canceled by East Coast Railways.

West Bengal

Schools closed in West Bengal: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her government is ready to face the cyclone.

Banerjee said, “Schools will remain closed in seven districts from October 23 to 26 as a precautionary measure. We do not want to take any risk. Schools and colleges are sometimes used as shelters for people.”

West Bengal districts which are likely to be most hit by the cyclone include South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur, along with coastal areas and neighbouring districts like Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram, and Hooghly.