Bhubaneshwar/Kolkata: The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm named ‘Dana’ on Wednesday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
It is expected to become a severe cyclone before crossing the eastern coast between Puri in Odisha and Sagar Island in West Bengal, with wind speeds reaching 120 km per hour on October 25, according to the IMD.
In a bulletin, the national weather agency said, “Yesterday’s deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestward at a speed of 18 km per hour over the past six hours and intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.”
The IMD in its latest forecast said, “Continuing its move the system is very likely to cross the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of October 24 and early morning October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph with gusting 120 kmph.”
The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea had moved west-northwestwards and was located over the east-central Bay of Bengal by midday on Monday.
The cyclonic storm is expected to intensify into a depression by October 22 morning and a cyclonic storm by October 23, before moving towards the northwest Bay of Bengal, nearing the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by the morning of October 24.
Fishermen have been advised to return to shore by Monday evening and avoid venturing into the sea until October 26.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said Odisha is likely to be the most affected, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and high-speed winds up to 100 km/h. The cyclone’s prolonged presence along the Odisha coast could lead to significant impact.
Rainfall predictions include light to moderate rain in most places, with isolated heavy rain in Odisha on October 23, and extremely heavy rainfall expected on October 24-25.
The IMD has issued a red warning for several districts, including Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur, indicating the potential for isolated heavy to extremely heavy rain.
An orange warning has been issued for districts such as Kendrapada, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, and Gajapati, while a yellow warning has been sounded for Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Angul, and several other districts.
Squally winds of 40-50 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h, are expected along the Odisha coast starting from October 23 evening. The winds are predicted to intensify to 100-110 km/h, with gusts reaching 120 km/h, from the night of October 24 until the morning of October 25.
The Odisha government has placed district collectors on high alert and directed them to implement precautionary measures, including the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas.
