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Cyclone Dana, named by Qatar, made landfall on the Odisha coast around midnight, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported wind speeds of 110 kmph during the landfall process, which lasted for approximately eight and a half hours. The cyclone is expected to weaken gradually over the next six hours.
The impact of Cyclone Dana was felt throughout Odisha, with reports of uprooted trees and areas becoming inundated. However, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi claimed that the state achieved its 'Zero Casualty Mission,' as there were no reports of human life lost or injuries caused by the storm.
In neighboring West Bengal, the cyclone's impact resulted in one fatality. A person died while working on a cable in the Patharpratima area of South 24 Parganas district during the storm. East Midnapore and Kolkata also experienced the effects of the cyclone, with reports of waterlogging in various areas.
Authorities in both Odisha and West Bengal took extensive precautionary measures in anticipation of the severe cyclonic storm. Lakhs of people were evacuated, schools were closed, over 400 trains were canceled, and flight operations were suspended. In Odisha, the state government evacuated approximately 5.8 lakh people and deployed 385 rescue teams, including those from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Service, and Forest staff. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reported that 2,43,374 people sought shelter in camps.
Source: Cyclone Dana Uproots Trees, Brings Heavy Rain In Odisha, 1 Dead In Bengal