Bhubaneswar: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a high alert as Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Dana’ is poised to make landfall along the Odisha coast late tonight, between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra.
The storm, currently located 210 km from Paradip and 240 km from Dhamra, is moving at a speed of 12 km per hour and is expected to bring wind speeds of 100 to 120 km per hour during landfall.
The IMD warns that the landfall process will extend into the early morning hours, potentially leading to widespread impacts across the region. Kendrapara, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhadrak districts are anticipated to bear the brunt of the cyclone, facing very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Additionally, nine other districts in the state are expected to experience heavy rainfall as the storm progresses.
In response to the impending cyclone, all air services at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar have been suspended from 5 PM today until 9 AM tomorrow. Authorities are actively evacuating residents from low-lying coastal areas to multipurpose cyclone centers for safety.
In preparation for the storm, schools, colleges, and universities across the state have been closed until Friday, and many government institutions are also shutting down. Medical personnel and government employees have had their leave canceled, and numerous passenger trains have been canceled as a precaution. Fishermen are prohibited from venturing into the sea until further notice.
Residents are urged to stay indoors and follow safety guidelines as the situation develops.