India's Odisha chief minister Mohan Manjhi-led state government has begun the evacuation process of nearly a million people from 3,000 vulnerable villages of 14 districts over the next 24 hours in wake of the impending Cyclone Dana formation, Report informs referring to the Hindustan Times.
Cyclone Dana formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday and moved north-westwards gradually towards the Odisha and West Bengal coasts.
Dana is expected to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during Thursday night and Friday early morning as a severe cyclone with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.
Special relief commissioner of Odisha, DK Singh said cyclonic storm Dana over the east-central Bay of Bengal continued to move north-westwards with a speed of 15kmph and lay centered about 520 km south-east of Paradip, 600 km southeast of Sagar island in Bengal and 610 km south-southeast Khepupara in Bangladesh at 8:30 am on Wednesday.
“It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal by Thursday morning and cross close to Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra of Bhadrak district Odisha between Thursday night and Friday morning as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km per hour gusting up to 120 km per hour. From Thursday morning there is the likelihood of heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghour and Kendrapara districts while there is a likelihood rainfall of more than 20 cm in these districts,” said Singh.
Anticipating the likelihood of severe flooding in the 14 districts, CM Manjhi has asked senior ministers to supervise the districts.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said more than 5,500 cyclonic relief centers are ready to ensure the people’s safety.
“The people in the vulnerable region have been urged to reach the nearest cyclone relief centers by evening today. More than 5,500 relief centers including permanent and temporary centers are ready with all facilities,” Pujari said.