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Cyclone Dana, a powerful storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal, is poised to make landfall on the coast of Odisha and West Bengal, prompting widespread preparations and evacuations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds, with the storm projected to hit between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra port in Odisha early Friday morning.
As a precautionary measure, Kolkata airport will remain shut for 15 hours, from 6 pm on October 24 to 9 am on October 25. Over 190 local trains have also been canceled in the Sealdah South and Hasnabad sections to ensure passenger safety during the storm's passage. The Odisha government has implemented an ambitious evacuation plan to relocate over 1 million people from 14 districts facing the threat of heavy rainfall, tidal surges, and strong winds. Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been mobilized and are ready to provide assistance. 6,000 relief camps have been established across the affected regions, offering shelter, food, and medical aid.
The approaching cyclone has also impacted daily life in Odisha, leading to the postponement of the preliminary test for the Odisha civil service examination, originally scheduled for October 27. Schools throughout the state have been closed from October 23 to October 25 to ensure the safety of students. Furthermore, the impending cyclone has driven a surge in food prices, as consumers rush to stock up on essentials, particularly potatoes and onions. This surge in demand has led to a significant increase in prices at markets in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, highlighting the anxieties and economic pressures associated with the approaching storm.
Source: Cyclone Dana: Kolkata airport to remain shut for 15 hours; top developments