Severe cyclonic storm Dana made landfall shortly after midnight on Friday between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port on Odisha coast with wind speed of 120 km per hour. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall commenced at 12:05 am and completed at around 9:50 am on 25th October 2024.

“It is likely to move northwestwards across north Odisha and weaken gradually into a deep depression during next 06 hours,” the IMD said. The Department has also informed that extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal today.

The chief ministers of Odisha and West Bengal, Mohan Charan Majhi and Mamata Banerjee monitored the landfall of Cyclone Dana from the State Emergency Control Room, Rajiv Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and the State Government Control Room in Howrah respectively.

Addressing a press conference after reviewing the post-storm situation at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office, the Odisha CM remarked, “we have succeeded in fighting the storm.” He informed that over 5.8 lakh people were evacuated to shelters at 6,008 facilities of accommodation and a total of 292 Medical Teams and 155 Veterinary Teams have been deployed.

Further, Majhi said that 1600 women gave birth to their new born out of the 4431 expecting mothers at Maternity Homes and healthcare facilities where they were brought in last two-days as a preventive measure.

As the storm weakens, clearing of debris and restoration works are underway in both states. Both the airports at Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata have also resumed services.