As severe cyclonic storm Dana approaches, heavy rain has already begun in the southern districts of West Bengal, such as South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and North 24 Parganas since Thursday morning. Additionally, Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and Jhargram are expected to experience rain on both Thursday and Friday.
“Light to moderate rainfall can be expected everywhere [in West Bengal]. [Some places in the state will witness] heavy to very heavy rainfall,” Somnath Dutta, head of Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) regional centre in Kolkata, told the media on Thursday.
“Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall may be witnessed in multiple areas of North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Hooghly, Jhargram and Bankura districts,” he added.
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Dutta further informed that during the period between Thursday night and Friday morning, gale wind could reach speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts up to 120 kmph in Purba Medinipur district, making it the most vulnerable to Dana in West Bengal. In neighbouring districts, gale and gust speeds could reach 50-60 kmph and 70 kmph respectively.
The IMD’s regional centre in Kolkata has indicated that rainfall will decrease in the southern districts of West Bengal on Saturday. On that day, only Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and Jhargram are expected to experience light to moderate rain.
As per the latest update from the IMD, Dana lays centred over northwest Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 210 kilometres from Odisha’s Paradip and 310 kilometres from Sagar Island of West Bengal. It will make landfall close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara in Odisha between Thursday night and Friday morning.
As a precautionary measure, the West Bengal government has evacuated residents from low-lying areas in vulnerable districts to relief centres. All ferry services have been suspended, and fishermen are prohibited from venturing out to sea. Eastern Railway has suspended 190 suburban train services in Sealdah division.
Additionally, 24/7 integrated control rooms have been established at the state secretariat and district levels.