Key Takeaways:
– More than a million people from India’s eastern coastal region have relocated to shelters anticipating the arrival of Cyclone Dana.
– The powerful storm, forecasted to hit West Bengal and Odisha as a severe cyclonic storm, is expected to have wind gusts of up to 120 km/h.
– Major airports like Kolkata will be shut down with persistent heavy rainfall already making a mark on the city.
– The cyclone eyes touching down near Dhamra port, 140 miles away from Kolkata.
– Preparations are also underway in neighboring Bangladesh as they brace for the storm’s impact too.
Dana: The Looming Threat
Cyclone Dana lurks ominously, ready to unleash its fury on India’s eastern coasts. Over 1.1 million people have sought refuge inland hoping to escape the expected onslaught. Officials predict that the cyclone will slam into West Bengal and Odisha states, home to 150 million individuals, as a severe cyclonic storm later today.
The storm is said to pack winds blowing at a ferocious speed of 120 kilometers an hour. Fear has gripped the entire region, with people racing against time to secure their safety.
Battening Down the Hatches
In response to the impending disaster, airports have closed, including the pivotal travel nexus, Kolkata. The city is already on its knees, grappling with torrential rainfall. Projections state that the storm’s eye will make landfall early Friday close to the coal-exporting port of Dhamra, 230 kilometers southwest of Kolkata.
Forecasts also indicate the cyclone will batter the neighboring low-lying territory of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi interim government leader Muhammad Yunus has confirmed that extensive efforts are underway to prepare for the aftermath.
Authorities are preparing for coastal flooding, as crashing waves are expected to thrust water two meters above normal tide levels.
Rescue Operations in Full Swing
Across Odisha state, health minister Mukesh Mahaling, informed that almost a million people from coastal zones are being evacuated to cyclone shelters. Likewise, in West Bengal state, more than 100,000 individuals have been relocated to safer locations, says government minister Bankim Chandra Hazra.
The usually bustling beach resort, Puri, now stands closed; tourists have been instructed to depart. Puri district magistrate Siddharth Swain assures that all possible measures are being taken to save lives.
Travel Disruption
Notably, the airports in Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar will suspend flights overnight due to predicted heavy rains and fierce winds, according to local airport directors. Trains have been cancelled, and Kolkata’s ferry services have been ordered to stay in port.
Bangladesh’s disaster minister, Faruk-e-Azam, stated that while they are on high alert, evacuation orders have not been issued as Dana’s worst fury is expected to hit India.
The minister further explained that authorities are closely following Cyclone Dana’s trajectory.
Cyclones: A Deadly Pattern
Cyclones are a common yet fatal threat in the northern Indian Ocean. Scientists warn that as the world warms due to fossil fuel-induced climate change, storms are becoming stronger.
The warmer ocean surfaces generate more water vapor that fuels these storms. Plus, a heating atmosphere is capable of holding more water, escalating heavy rainfall scenarios.
Hence, reliable forecasting and better evacuation planning are crucial to mitigating the death tolls. We have to be proactive and collectively face these challenges as they continue due to climate change.