HEAVY downpours and intense winds pounded sections of eastern India on Friday as a tropical cyclone approached coastal areas and rescue teams prepared for its effect.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Tropical Cyclone Dana made landfall near the northern coast of Odisha state, equal to a tropical storm in the Atlantic basin, with winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph). As of 9 a.m., the storm was around 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Kolkata and traveling north-northwest at 12 kph (8 mph). Local time (11:30 p.m. ET).
Dana produced rainfall ranging from 50 to 150 millimeters (2-6 inches) in Odisha and West Bengal, with the highest total of 160 mm (6.2 inches) recorded in Chand Bali. There were no early reports of injuries or damage.
Before landfall, authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of people, closed schools, and canceled trains and planes across the country. The India Meteorological Department (India MET) has issued its highest red rain warning for regions of Odisha and West Bengal.
Before the cyclone made landfall, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the Press Trust of India news agency that approximately 300,000 people had been evacuated from susceptible locations and that three districts were expected to be seriously impacted.
Authorities intended to evacuate almost one million people from 14 regions. Several search and rescue teams have also been dispatched to the state, which is prone to strong cyclones and thunderstorms.
“The government is completely prepared to handle the crisis. “You’re in good hands,” Majhi remarked.
Cyclones have traditionally plagued India’s eastern shores, but the number of severe storms is on the rise. Last year, India experienced its deadliest cyclone season in recent years, killing 523 people and causing an estimated $2.5 billion in damage.
Dana is expected to weaken as it moves west across Odisha, producing moderate to heavy rainfall throughout its course during the weekend.