Ranchi, Oct 25 (PTI) Rain lashed parts of Jharkhand on Friday under the influence of cyclonic storm Dana, a Met Department official said.
The Kolhan region of Jharkhand comprising West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharswan and East Singhbhum districts witnessed spells of light to moderate rainfall since Thursday night, while other parts of the state are experiencing cloudy weather coupled with intermittent rains.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday said he was continuously monitoring the cyclonic system for the last 24 hours.
"I am taking hourly information on this issue. Several steps have also been taken as precautionary measures mainly in East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan districts," the CM posted on X.
According to the information, cyclone 'Dana' is expected to slow down in a few hours, he said.
"All are appealed to strictly follow the guidelines of the administration," he wrote.
The inclement weather affected poll activities in parts of Jharkhand.
The chief minister's scheduled election rally in Bokaro on Friday was cancelled due to the overcast weather, according to a release of CM's personal secretary.
Ranchi Meteorological Centre officials said that the impact of the system seemed to have weakened over Jharkhand.
"One or two districts of Kolhan region may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall on Friday, while some districts of central Jharkhand including Ranchi might witness moderate rainfall," Ranchi Meteorological Centre in-charge Abhishek Anand told PTI.
He said that the rain intensity would further decline on Saturday.
The Meteorological Department on Thursday had issued an 'orange' alert for the Kolhan region for Friday.
In view of the inclement weather, Jharkhand School Education and Literacy Development Department on Thursday said that all schools would be closed on Friday in the Kolhan division.
"All categories of government, non-government, aided, unaided and private schools, from kindergarten to class 12, operating in West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharswan districts under Kolhan division will remain closed on October 25 in light of the alert issued by the Meteorological Center, Ranchi, regarding heavy rainfall and strong winds under the influence of cyclonic storm Dana," a notice issued by the department said.
Six teams of the NDRF were deployed in Jamshedpur and Chaibasa, while two teams were kept on standby in Ranchi to deal with any emergency situation.
According to the Meteorological Centre, the severe cyclonic storm 'Dana' moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 10 kmph and weakened into a cyclonic storm over north coastal Odisha.
The landfall process has been completed in neighbouring Odisha. It is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a deep depression during the next six hours, it stated.