Cyclone Dana to make landfall, Bengal on high alert; schools, colleges closed in 8 districts

According to the authorities government, the alert has been issued successful 8 districts — South 24 Paraganas, North 24 Paraganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Hooghly Howrah and Kolkata.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Tuesday warned of a terrible cyclonic storm which is apt to transverse the seashore betwixt Puri successful Odisha and Sagar Island successful Bengal, connected Thursday nighttime and aboriginal Friday morning. The cyclone volition marque landfall betwixt October 23 and 25 on the coasts of the 2 states, with expected upwind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph, the forecast stated.

At a property conference, CM Banerjee said the authorities is afloat prepared to grip the concern and has already initiated evacuation efforts successful low-lying areas. She besides criticised the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for its relation successful exacerbating the imaginable harm successful coastal districts.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has besides begun preparations to code the expected dense rainfall successful the metropolis connected Thursday and Friday owed to the cyclone’s influence. Municipal Commissioner Dhabal Jain held meetings with officials to sermon the contingency plans.

Meanwhile, the upwind bureau said the low-pressure country implicit the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining bluish Andaman Sea moved northwestwards and presently laic arsenic a well-marked low-pressure country implicit east-central Bay of Bengal arsenic of 11:30 americium connected Monday.

The authorities authorities has ordered to halt sportfishing activities, and the India Coast Guard is preparing for alleviation operations successful presumption of the cyclone’s impending landfall.

For Bengal, the IMD has recommended “total suspension of sportfishing operations from October 23 to 25 implicit the bluish Bay of Bengal,” arsenic good arsenic “judicious regularisation of onshore/offshore, larboard and maritime activities including shipping, (and) aboveground transport including railways, roadways, and ferry services.”

The Indian Coast Guard said it is acceptable to supply assistance, rescue, and alleviation operations. “The ICG remains committed to ensuring the information of the maritime assemblage and mitigating the risks posed by Cyclone Dana,” work a connection by the ICG.

Among different measures, the ICG has reportedly deployed helicopters and distant operating stations astatine Haldia and Paradip to broadcast regular upwind warnings and information advisories to fishermen and mariners. Additionally, the ICG unit are reportedly moving successful coordination with the section administrations and catastrophe absorption authorities. Fishing communities person been informed done “various channels”, including colony heads, to debar venturing into the sea, it is learnt.