Rain lashed Kolkata and adjoining districts as Cyclone Dana moved northwestwards on Wednesday — and by early on Friday, it is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over northwestern Bay of Bengal, an IMD official said.
“Cyclone Dana is likely to cross the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island between Thursday night and Friday morning,” the official said.
The districts likely to experience the storm’s harshest effects include South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur, along with coastal areas and neighbouring districts like Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram, and Hooghly. The West Bengal government is bracing for the storm’s impact, having already asked schools in eight districts to remain closed from October 23 to 26. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has placed those districts, including East Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, and Kolkata, on high alert. Integrated 24×7 control rooms have been established at state and district levels to “monitor the situation” and coordinate responses, Banerjee told media on Tuesday, adding: “We are fully prepared to tackle this cyclone, and our government is taking all necessary steps.”
Meanwhile, 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF teams) in West Bengal are on standby. The Indian Coast Guard said it is on high alert and has mobilised “extensive sea and air patrols in coordination with the (IMD)”, deploying ships to shepherd fishing boats and other vessels to shore on the eastern coast. Tourists and pilgrims from coastal areas have been asked to leave. All up-down trains on the Sealdah South line and Barasat-Hasnabad line have been cancelled from 8 pm on Thursday to 10 am on Friday.
The IMD itself has issued a heavy rainfall alert for several districts in West Bengal. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas districts, with extremely heavy rain possible in some areas. Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and Jhargram districts are also expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. The prevailing speed of wind as of Wednesday is 60-70 kmph with gusts of 80 kmph, and these are likely to increase to 70-90 kmph and 100 kmph respectively between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Afterwards, the IMD said, the speed is likely to decrease.