Cyclone Dana: 'Zero casualty achieved through precautionary measures,' says Odisha CM

While Severe Cyclone Dana spared West Bengal from largescale destruction unlike previous storms like Amphan and Bulbul, it breached embankments and brought torrential rains, causing considerable property damage in the southern areas, keeping the administration on high alert even after the storm passed on Friday morning. At an administrative review meeting after the cyclone, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said one person died in the aftermath of the storm, even though the administration had evacuated around 2.16 lakh people from low-lying areas in advance.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that one person died in the state in cyclone Dana, while the administration evacuated around 2.16 lakh people from low-lying areas. Banerjee, who held a review meeting at the state secretariat after spending the night there to monitor the situation, directed the officials to ensure that relief materials reach all those affected by the cyclone. "Only one person died in this natural disaster. The man died at his residence while conducting some cable-related work. It is quite unfortunate. The postmortem examination will give us a clear picture. If required, we (state government) will help the family," Banerjee said, without elaborating.

Rain lashed parts of Jharkhand on Friday under the influence of cyclonic storm Dana, a Met Department official said. The Kolhan region of Jharkhand comprising West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts witnessed spells of light to moderate rainfall since Thursday night, while other parts of the state are experiencing cloudy weather coupled with intermittent rains. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday said he was continuously monitoring the cyclonic system for the last 24 hours.

Cyclone Dana spared Odisha and West Bengal of any severe damage to houses and infrastructure but uprooting of trees and electric poles was reported while train and flight services resumed in the two states even as the weather system completed landfall on Friday morning, triggering heavy rains in the region. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asserted that no fatality report has been received so far and the state achieved its 'zero casualty mission', while West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said one person died due to the natural calamity. The severe cyclonic storm Dana completed its landfall around 8.30 am on Friday and the system took at least eight and half hours to enter the landmass, the IMD said.

Normal operations resumed at Bhubaneswar Airport, with the first flight landing at 9 am. Authorities are working to clear road blockages, expected to be fully cleared by 1 pm.

Thanks to robust planning, no casualties have been reported. “We have achieved the target of zero casualty due to proper planning and execution,” Odisha Chief Minister stated, adding that over 6 lakh people were moved to safer locations before the cyclone hit.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi confirmed that Cyclone Dana made landfall overnight between October 24 and 25, with wind speeds reaching 82-100 km/hour. The landfall process continued until 7 am today.

Odisha is experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds as Cyclone Dana intensifies, impacting several areas across the state. Visuals from Dhamara village in Bhadrak district show significant weather disturbances, with gusty winds and heavy downpours affecting daily life. Authorities have issued warnings in coastal areas, advising residents to stay indoors and prepare for potential flooding and infrastructure disruptions.

NDRF teams are cutting down fallen trees and clearing debris from roads, ensuring that transportation routes can be reopened safely.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 20 teams across Odisha to manage cyclone-related disruptions. In Dhama, they are working to clear trees blocking key routes, including the path connecting Dhama to Goa via Bansoda Road.

In Dhama, Odisha, the recent cyclone has caused severe disruptions, uprooting numerous trees across southern Dhama. A mud house was damaged when a large tree fell onto it; however, there were no residents inside at the time, averting a potential tragedy.

Currently, there are no reports of significant damage. Shahedi stated that detailed field reports are being compiled by the State Operations Centre (SOC) to provide an accurate assessment of the impact.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Mohsen Shahedi reported that Cyclone Dana, a severe cyclonic storm, made landfall between the midnight of October 24 and early morning of October 25. The landfall process concluded at around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The cyclone has now transitioned into a deep depression, expected to intensify further over the next six hours.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday claimed that the state has achieved its "Zero Casualty Mission" as there has been no report regarding any loss of human life or injury in the severe cyclonic storm Dana which made landfall in the coast on Thursday night. Majhi who reviewed the cyclone situation here in the morning announced that there has been no human casualty in the cyclone.

Flight operations resumed at Kolkata airport in West Bengal from 8 am on Friday after cyclone Dana made landfall on the coast of neighbouring Odisha, officials said. Train services on the south section of the Sealdah Division under the Eastern Railway also resumed at 10 am after scheduled cancellations due to the cyclone, they added.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Friday that no casualties have been reported due to Cyclone Dana. He stated that nearly 600,000 people have been successfully evacuated to safer locations as a precautionary measure.

During a media briefing, CM Majhi explained that Cyclone Dana made landfall in the early hours of October 25, affecting the region between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra coasts. “The landfall process continued until 7:00 AM today. Thanks to vigilant administration and preparedness, there has been no loss of life. Our target of achieving ‘zero casualties’ has been met, and 6,000 pregnant women were relocated to health centers,” he said.

According to the IMD’s hourly bulletin, the landfall began at around 12:05 AM on Thursday and concluded at approximately 8:30 AM on Friday. An IMD scientist confirmed the completion of the landfall process, indicating that Dana has now fully transitioned from a storm at sea to one affecting the coastal regions.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana was completed on Friday morning. The system took approximately eight and a half hours to fully enter the landmass.

In response to the ongoing landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) began removing uprooted trees from roads in coastal districts of Odisha on Friday. The restoration efforts are crucial as the storm continues to impact the region.

ADM Bhadrak, Shantanu Mohanty said, "...we have already evacuated the vulnerable people and they are in Cyclone shelters... Electricity and other things have been restored. Fire Services, ODRF and NDRF teams have been moved... There has been a red alert in Bhadrak as heavy rain is expected. We have conveyed the message to the people not to go out..."

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi monitors the situation posed by Cyclone Dana.

Bhadrak, Odisha: Roads in the coastal villages of Dhamra in Bhadrak district have been blocked due to fallen trees and debris as Cyclone Dana makes its impact. Locals were seen clearing roads manually, working to remove the uprooted trees that have obstructed key routes.

Several houses in the area have also sustained damage due to the cyclone’s strong winds and heavy rainfall. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage as the cyclone continues to affect coastal regions. Emergency services have been mobilized to assist in recovery efforts.

Flight operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata were disrupted as Cyclone Dana began its landfall in the region. The severe cyclonic storm, which has caused strong winds and heavy rainfall, led to several delays and cancellations of flights.

Airport authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and passengers have been advised to check for updates on flight schedules. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of potential severe weather conditions in the coming hours as the landfall process continues.

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Flight operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata were disrupted as Cyclone Dana began its landfall in the region. The severe cyclonic storm, which has caused strong winds and heavy rainfall, led to several delays and cancellations of flights.

Airport authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and passengers have been advised to check for updates on flight schedules. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of potential severe weather conditions in the coming hours as the landfall process continues.

Flight operations at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar will now resume services at 8:00 AM instead of the previously scheduled 9:00 AM.

Cyclone Dana landfall process began late night 12:45am and continued till 5:30 am to 6:00 am, said the Meteorological Department. The storm is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over northwest Bay of Bengal with wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. READ MORE...