As Cyclone Dana edges closer to West Bengal, the state government has implemented extensive measures to mitigate its impact. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts in the region on October 24 and 25.
IMD Scientist Habibur Rahman Biswas provided an update on the cyclone’s position, stating, “Cyclonic Storm Dana is positioned over the East-Central Bay of Bengal and has moved northwestwards as of 11:30 AM IST on October 23.”
He added that the storm is currently located approximately 570 km from Sagar Island (West Bengal), 490 km from Paradip (Odisha), and 520 km from Dhamra (Odisha). “Dana is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 24 as it moves further northwestwards,” Biswas said.
The IMD has warned of heavy rainfall in isolated areas across South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, and Bankura districts of Gangetic West Bengal.
In response to the cyclone warning, the West Bengal School Education Department announced the closure of schools and academic institutions in several districts from October 23 to 26. The affected areas include Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Howrah, and Hooghly.
West Bengal’s Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose confirmed that teams have been strategically deployed across 85 stations to respond to the cyclone’s effects. “We’ve held meetings with officials to finalize the arrangements. Eleven teams are stationed in South Kolkata, eight in North Kolkata, twelve in South 24 Parganas, and twenty-four in North 24 Parganas. Additional teams are deployed in Howrah, West Medinipur, and East Medinipur,” Bose said.
The minister also said that a monitoring system has been established at the control room to oversee operations and coordinate emergency responses.
The IMD has reiterated that Cyclone Dana is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm as it progresses over the northwest Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 24, heightening preparedness efforts across the region.
(Inputs from ANI)