A total of 2,201 pregnant women evacuated to maternity centres by the Odisha government ahead of Cyclone Dana's landfall gave birth during the calamity.

Two people have died in West Bengal after Cyclone Dana made landfall, according to news agency PTI. Earlier today, Mamata Banerjee confirmed that one person died while conducting some cable-related work.  

The police has now said that another person died in Kolkata after being electrocuted. The man, Sourav Gupta, was in his early twenties. "The incident happened on Friday afternoon, when Sourav Gupta left his home for some personal work and while walking down the road, he somehow came in contact with some open electrical wire. He was taken to the nearby hospital where he was declared as brought dead," said police.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that no deaths have been reported in Odisha. 

According to Kolkata's Regional Meteorological Office, West Bengal will witness continuous heavy rainfall tomorrow as an after-effect of cyclone Dana. However, the regional office said that the intensity of the rainfall will start receding from tomorrow night and things will be back to normal by Saturday. 

"Heavy showers started late Thursday night as an impact of the landfall; at several pockets in south Bengal, especially in the coastal belts. The intensity of the rains increased after the landfall process was completed early Friday morning as its after-effect," the Regional Meteorological Office said.

According to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, there have been no casualties after cyclone Dana made landfall because of proper planning and excecution. Mr Majhi, while speaking to the media, said, "There has been no report of any casualty anywhere. We have achieved the target of zero casualty due to proper planning and execution. We have shifted more than six lakh people to safer places. Airport service have become normal. The first flight in the state landed at 9 am today and all road blockage will be cleared by 1 pm today."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that the emergency administrative activities at the two coastal districts East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas will continue following the landfall of Cyclone Dana which had a minimum impact so far in the state, according to news agency IANS.

"The emergency administrative activities will continue in all the vulnerable pockets. But special focus will be given to East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas district," said the Chief Minister.

Earlier, in a meeting with the top administrative officials of the state, the Chief Minister advised immediate distribution of mosquito nets in places prone to mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.

Realized severe weather associated with Severe Cyclonic Storm 'Dana' on 25 October 2024
(i) Realised maximum Wind:
The estimated maximum sustained wind at the time of landfall over Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts of Odisha was about 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph at the time…

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2024

Trees uprooted along the roads from Dangamal to Talachua village in Odisha.

In pictures: NDRF and ODRAF units are clearing uprooted trees along the roads from Dangamal to Talachua village, which were significantly affected near Bhitarakanika National Park in Kendrapara pic.twitter.com/oAabzKEFGg

— IANS (@ians_india) October 25, 2024

As Cyclone Dana makes landfall, India Coast Guard has mobilized 11 ships, 05 aircraft and 14 Disaster Relief Teams to tackle the challenges ahead. 

As Cyclone Dana makes landfall, @IndiaCoastGuard has mobilized 11 ships, 05 aircraft and 14 Disaster Relief Teams #DRTs to tackle the challenges ahead. Focused on immediate assistance and search & rescue, our teams are ready to ensure community safety. So far, no loss of life or… pic.twitter.com/ri9cG97uvn

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) October 25, 2024

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that one person died in the state in cyclone Dana. The death was reported from North 24 Parganas' Patharpratima.

"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

VIDEO | Cyclone Dana: Digha Beach in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, is experiencing high tides.#CycloneDanaUpdates #CycloneDana #Odisha
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/y8yeEKrJx6

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 25, 2024

VIDEO | Cyclone Dana: Coastal districts of West Bengal are experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Visuals from Gangasagar, South 24 Parganas.
STORY | Heavy rains lash parts of south Bengal as severe cyclone 'Dana' batters Odisha coast
READ: https://t.co/KN5WRDUkRy… pic.twitter.com/6ZYWdJdQsB

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 25, 2024

#ବଗପାଟିଆରେ_ଜୁଆର_ପାଣି
ବୁଡିଗଲା ସାତଭାୟା ଥଇଥାନ ସ୍ଥଳୀ ବଗପାଟିଆ । ପାଣି ଘେରରେ ୫୭୧ ପରିବାର ।#cyclone_Dana pic.twitter.com/jn0aC30Mxv

— AIR NEWS CUTTACK (ଆକାଶବାଣୀ ସମାଚାର କଟକ) (@airnewscuttack) October 25, 2024

VIDEO | Cyclone Dana: NDRF teams clearing the Dhamara-Bandsa road blocked by uprooted trees.
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… pic.twitter.com/9ASR9dzQeF

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 25, 2024

Large parts of Kolkata faced severe waterlogging as cyclone Dana brought 100 mm of rainfall till 11.30 am on Friday over the previous 24 hours.

Knee-deep water at several thoroughfares in south and central parts of the city hampered traffic movement in Bhawanipur, New Market, Hazra, Dharmatala, and Behala areas. Reports of waterlogging were also received from Thanthania Kalibari, Mahatma Gandhi Road, VIP Road, Park Circus, Dum Dum and parts of New Town in the northern and eastern parts of the city.

Significant flooding was also seen inside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters in Esplanade area, while patients, staff and health workers were found wading through ankle-deep water at SSKM Hospital.

Rainwater accumulation was also noticed at the OPD wing of the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, another state-run tertiary healthcare facility in the city.

VIDEO | West Bengal: Waterlogging in parts of #Kolkata as the region receives heavy rainfall in the wake of Cyclone Dana. #CycloneDanaUpdates
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/X1scB71kLI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 25, 2024

People in Odisha's Kendrapara district, which was on the path of cyclone Dana, heaved a sigh of relief as the severe cyclonic storm largely spared the coastal district.

While there is no report of loss of life and property, tidal surges made inroads into some of the villages and agriculture fields, officials said.

The Bhitarkanika National Park, which was home to the landfall spot, has largely been saved from the devastating aftermath of the cyclone though details from the park are yet to emerge, said an official.

The settlement colony at Bagapatia, housing the people displaced from their native land in Satabhaya due to sea erosion, has come under water inundation as tidal surge entered into the colony.

After Cyclone Dana's landfall, Jharkhand received heavy rains, especially in the Kolhan division.

Areas like Jagannathpur, Saraikela, and Baharagora received the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours. Other affected districts include Giridih, Godda, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Sahibganj, and Lohardaga.

Flights from Ranchi to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata on Friday have been cancelled, and around 10 trains passing through or headed to Jharkhand have also been halted.

The Meteorological Department anticipates similar weather on October 26, with possible lightning strikes across Jharkhand. Fog is expected on October 26-27, followed by a drop in temperatures from October 28.

Farmers have been advised to drain excess water from their fields and harvest ripe vegetables promptly to prevent crop damage.

Odisha evacuated altogether 5,84,888 people, and the number could exceed 6,00,000 by Friday morning.

"These people are lodging in 6,008 cyclone shelters, where they are being provided with food, medicine, water, and other essential supplies," Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said.

The chief minister said Balasore district saw the highest evacuation, with 172,916 people taken to safety, followed by Mayurbhanj with 100,000. Additionally, 75,000 people were evacuated from Bhadrak, 58,000 from Jajpur, and 46,000 from Kendrapara.

He clarified that the state government initially aimed to evacuate 10 lakh people, and the target was adjusted based on the changing trajectory of Cyclone Dana. "We successfully evacuated all people from high-risk areas," the chief minister said.

The heavy rain caused by Cyclone Dana caused damage to harvestable crops, especially paddy and potato, in West Bengal.

Prices of certain essential food items in the retail markets are expected to be high before the forthcoming festive season of Kali Puja and Diwali.

As per predictions of the Regional Meteorological Office in Kolkata, heavy showers will continue in the districts of South Bengal throughout the day and the intensity of the rainfall is expected to recede in the evening.

According to state administration, the maximum impact during the Cyclone Dana landfall process was reported from coastal Sundarbans areas like Namkhana, Sagar Islands and Patharpratima, where several trees were uprooted because of heavy wind. Trident lampposts, especially near the 'Kapil Muni Ashram' in Sagar Island, too were severely damaged.

As cyclonic storm Dana made landfall in Odisha, it is showing its impact in the neighbouring state of Bihar, where Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for heavy rain and strong winds.

Cloud cover was witnessed in more than 34 districts in Bihar, with temperatures dropping by 1-6 degrees Celsius.

On Friday, October 25, rain is anticipated in eastern, south-central, and eastern Bihar, with the heaviest downpours likely in the Kosi and Seemanchal districts. Rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds of 20-40 kmph is forecast for 24 districts, including Buxar, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Nawada, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger, Banka, Jamui, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Supaul, and Patna.

On Saturday, October 26, the impact of Dana will persist, with rain forecast across northeast, north-central, and south Bihar. Officials are warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds in these areas, urging residents to take precautions.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said 1,600 of 4,431 pregnant women relocated to relief centres due to cyclone Dana have given birth.

Earlier in the day, a woman evacuated from Cuttack district gave birth to a baby boy at Niali Hospital.

This birth was announced by the state government’s Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department, highlighting that the mother was among the 4,431 pregnant women taken to cyclone shelters.

Authorities remained on alert and people hunkered down as the landfall of the 'severe' cyclonic storm Dana began on Thursday night, lasting 8.5 hours.

Here is what transpired in Odisha:

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world heats up due to climate change driven by burning fossil fuels.

Warmer ocean surfaces release more water vapour, which provides additional energy for storms, strengthening winds. A warming atmosphere also allows storms to hold more water, boosting heavy rainfall.

But better forecasting and more effective evacuation planning have dramatically reduced death tolls.

In view of Cyclone Dana, the Odisha Raj Bhavan is running a 24x7 control room with the phone numbers 033-22001641 and E-mail ID emergency.danarajbhavan@gmail.com.

Odisha's worst cyclone in recent years was in 1999, which raged for 30 hours and killed 10,000 people.

Severe storms lash coastal cities in India and neighbouring Bangladesh during the cyclone season from April to December each year, causing extensive damage.

The severe cyclonic storm Dana which hit the landmass at a wind speed of 110 kmph has weakened and has become a cyclonic storm. The cyclone lay centered at about 50 km north-north west of Dhamra and 30 km of north east of Bhadrak town. 

"The maximum sustained wind speed around the centre of the cyclone is about 80 kmph to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph," the IMD said. 

The cyclone is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a deep depression during next six hours, the IMD said.

The landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm Dana was completed, with the system taking at least eight and half hours to enter the landmass.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said no casualties were reported in the state so far. Stateminister Suryabanshi Suraj said there was power disturbance, house damage and agriculture land was affected, adding that authorities are focused on restoration work.

Telecom service providers in Odisha activated intra-circle roaming in seven districts of the state which were put under ‘red-warning’ for cyclone Dana.

State Electronic and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the intra-circle roaming allows telecom operators to use each other's network and such an arrangement is active in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Cuttack districts.

To further ensure that customers stay connected, Jio has enabled Interconnect Roaming (ICR) in Odisha and West Bengal. It will enable customers to remain connected with the available network irrespective of any service provider at that point in time.

The National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research urged the paddy farmers to take precautionary measures to minimise crop loss.

Among others, scientists have asked farmers to keep drainage channels open in non-mature paddy crops to drain the excess water out of fields to minimise the loss due to waterlogging. “Harvested rice should also be properly stacked at safer places and covered with tarpaulin to avoid further damage due to prolonged rainfall,” the advisory said.

It suggested that after the rain stops, the farmers should immediately dry the rice grains under the sun for one or two days to reduce the moisture content and then store the grains in good quality bags to retain their quality, texture, colour, aroma and taste for a longer period.

Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in a statement said that all measures were being taken to protect the Jagannath temple in Puri while keeping the daily rituals intact.

Devotees too were advised caution while undertaking a month-long ‘Kartik Brata’ ritual at the 12th century shrine. 

The district administration and ASI have also taken measures to protect the tourists visiting the 13th-century Sun Temple at Konark. The ASI has closed the Konark Temple for two days while the district police prevented all tourists from visiting sea beaches.

INSAT Cloud picture shows Cyclone located over North Odisha Coast at 0745 hrs IST of today, the 25th Oct 2024 pic.twitter.com/h688etwLmp

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2024

The NDRF and ODRAF teams on Friday started restoration work by removing uprooted trees from the roads in the coastal districts of Odisha even as the landfall process of severe cyclonic storm Dana is still going on.

"There has been massive damage to electrical installations due to tree falling. Roads are being cleared," Odisha Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who is in charge of Bhadrak district, said.

Kamaria Bazar and Santapura Bazar,Tihidi,dist.-Bhadrak at about 8.00 & 8.10 hrs.#CycloneDana @IPR_Odisha @CMO_Odisha @SRC_Odisha pic.twitter.com/KnNyGCS4K5

— Odisha Fire & Emergency Services (@OdishaF_ES) October 25, 2024

Dos

Don'ts

The scene of devastation caused by Cyclone Phailin in 2013 still haunts the people of Ganjam, as the Odisha government prepared for Cyclone Dana.

On October 12, 2013, Phailin made landfall near Gopalpur, destroying infrastructure in the district, claiming at least 15 lives, and damaging around 250,000 houses.

"When the district administration began preparing for the possible cyclone and prevented us from going to the sea for fishing, the memories of that dark night came flooding back," M. Tateya, 65 from the coastal village of Aryapalli, told PTI.

"During my lifetime, I will never forget the disaster caused by Phailin, which robbed me of all my belongings, including my thatched house,' said Laxmi, 50, of Jagdalpur.

Flight operations resumed at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and Bhubaeswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport at 8 am. 

The first flight departed from Kolkata at 8.40 am and another arrived at 8.27 am.

The rear sector of 'severe' Cyclone Dana is entering into land and the landfall process is expected to continue for another hour, an IMD bulletin said.

The cyclonic system is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm before 12 pm.

Heavy rains packed with gusty winds lashed parts of southern West Bengal, with waterlogging in various parts of Mandarmani in Purba Medinipur and Gosaba in South 24 Parganas adding to people's misery.

Operations at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport will remain suspended until 9 AM on Friday due to expected high winds and heavy rain.

South Eastern Railway (SER), which oversees routes in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, has cancelled more than 170 express and passenger trains scheduled between October 23 and 27.

Additionally, Eastern Railway cancelled 68 suburban trains in the Howrah division for Friday morning, while all EMU local trains from Sealdah station were suspended from Thursday evening till Friday morning.

Kolkata Port authorities also halted ship movements until Friday evening as a precautionary measure.

Rainfall intensified in the early morning hours across the affected districts, including Kolkata, which experienced moderate-to-heavy rainfall, along with hailstorms, since Thursday night.

An ‘orange’ alert has been issued in Jharkhand's Kolhan region (West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts) for Friday. This category of alert indicates heavy rainfall ranging from 115 mm to 204 mm in 24 hours, the official said.

"Apart from heavy rain, the region might also experience thunderstorms and gusty winds with speeds of up to 60 kmph," Ranchi Meteorological Centre in-charge Abhishek Anand said.

Six teams of the NDRF have been deployed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, while two teams were kept on standby in Ranchi to deal with any emergency situation, another official said.

Several parts of central Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla and Ramgarh, may also experience heavy rainfall on Friday, Anand said.

Expressing solidarity with the people in view of cyclone 'Dana', West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that it is a moment of crisis but the state has braved many storms and will face this also with "confidence" and "fortitude".

"Bengal will stand together and we shall overcome. My dear brothers and sisters, please follow all instructions issued by the government and disaster management authority. Please follow dos and don'ts prescribed by them. All the disaster management machinery of the state government and the Government of India are kept well-oiled and fighting fit," he added.

The West Bengal Governor further asserted that coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success. "There is no calamity that a human mind cannot overcome," he said.

As per the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dana's name was suggested by Qatar. It means "generosity" in Arabic.

The WMO says that assigning names to tropical cyclones makes tracking and discussing specific storms more "straightforward, especially when multiple storms are active simultaneously."

"Naming also helps to avoid confusion among meteorologists, media, emergency management agencies and the public. Additionally, naming tropical cyclones can aid historical record-keeping and research on storm behaviour and impacts," the WMO says.

Here is how cyclones are named

The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar suspended flight operations at the airport from Thursday 5 PM to 9 AM on October 25. Earlier, the East Coast Railway had suspended more than 150 trains in view of Cyclone Dana.

All the educational institutions, parks, libraries, and museums located in the affected districts have also been closed.

The Orissa High Court will remain closed on Friday in view of the cyclonic storm.

The Odisha Public Service Commission has also postponed the Odisha Civil Services Preliminary Examination-2023.

Gale with wind speed 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph is already prevailing along and off north Odisha and is likely to continue till Friday morning and decrease gradually thereafter. Gale of wind speed reaching 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is likely along and off south Odisha till Friday morning and decrease gradually thereafter, the IMD said.

The weather agency has also said that light-to-moderate rainfall in most places and heavy-to-very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (above 21 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsingpur Keonjhar, Jajpur, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, Khurda and Puri districts are expected till October 25.

Pray for all 🙏
Don’t panic,Stay safe.#CycloneDana pic.twitter.com/izIMjUXjUN

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) October 24, 2024

In Odisha, the coastal districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore and nearby Jagatsinghpur district witnessed sudden increase in wind speed which reached 100 kmph to 110 kmph and extremely heavy rain, as Cyclone Dana's landfall commenced.

The storm moved north-northwest at a speed of 15 kmph for six hours before making landfall between Bhitarkanika in the Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak, with wind speeds of around 110 kmph, a senior IMD official said.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the landfall also accelerated the tidal surge, which could go up to two metres above the astronomical height, in Kendrapada, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. The landfall process of cyclone usually takes five to six hours, he said.

Suresh Pujari, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, said 5.84 lakh people were evacuated, with 7,307 relief centres opened across different districts. 6,454 domestic animals were brought to relief centres, 213 medical teams were deployed to take care of the evacuated people and 120 veterinary teams have also been positioned in different locations.

Moreover, 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 51 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and 220 Fire Services teams have been deployed.

#WATCH | Odisha: Gusty winds and heavy downpour cause destruction in Dhamra, Bhadrak
The landfall process of #CycloneDana underway pic.twitter.com/1tILknoZyK

— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2024

2014: Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

2018: Titli in Odisha

2019: Fani in Odisha

2019: Bulbul in West Bengal

2020: Amphan in West Bengal

Authorities in Odisha are on alert for snapped power lines and disruption of other services and at daybreak authorities will begin the process of assessing the damage due to winds and heavy rain. 

Reports of trees getting uprooted were received, however, no major damage or casualty was witnessed.

Authorities in Odisha and West Bengal evacuated lakhs of people, shut schools, cancelled more than 400 trains, and suspended flight operations as they braced for the severe cyclonic storm.

The services at Bhubaneswar's Biju Patnaik International Airport and Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, which were suspended on Thursday evening as part of precautionary measures, will resume at 9 am today.

Hats off to our #Narishakti !
ASHA worker Sibani Mandal from Khasmunda village of Rajnagar Block in #Kendrapara,#Odisha evacuated an elderly woman, carrying on her shoulder to a #Cyclone shelter.#CycloneDana pic.twitter.com/MaOUs5ihmi

— PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) October 24, 2024

The landfall of Cyclone Dana began on the Odisha coast on Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday, leading to heavy rain and strong winds of 110kmph, gusting up to 120kmph. 

Reports of trees being uprooted have come in from Dhamra where the cyclone made landfall. East Midnapore in West Bengal is witnessing the impact of the cyclone the most and places like Digha have witnessed heavy rainfall.