Cyclone Dana Hits Odisha: Airports Resume Operations
On October 25, flight operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport resumed at 8 am after being shut due to Cyclone Dana. The cyclone made landfall on Odisha’s coast, prompting precautionary measures. Similarly, Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport also resumed operations at 8 am after a temporary closure.
Cyclone Dana’s Impact
The cyclone made landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra with wind speeds of 110 kmph, affecting districts like Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur with heavy rain and strong winds. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the cyclone would weaken gradually.
Government Response
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, along with other officials, monitored the situation. Approximately 5.84 lakh people were evacuated to shelters. Bus services at Baramunda’s Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal were disrupted.
Evacuation Efforts
Sandeep Kumar Behera, Bhadrak’s assistant fisheries officer, confirmed that all boats were safely anchored. Post-cyclone assessments will determine any damages.
Weather Update
IMD Director Manorama Mohanty stated that the cyclone’s intensity was severe, with wind speeds of 100-110 km/hr. The landfall process was expected to continue for 1-2 hours, with the cyclone weakening as it moved northwest.
Several roads in coastal Odisha were blocked due to uprooted trees from the strong winds and heavy rain.
Doubts Revealed
Cyclone Dana -: Cyclone Dana is a powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain. It is named ‘Dana’ to identify it among other cyclones. Cyclones are common in coastal areas and can cause a lot of damage.
Odisha -: Odisha is a state in eastern India, known for its long coastline along the Bay of Bengal. It often faces cyclones due to its location.
Bhubaneswar -: Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha. It is an important city for administration and culture in the state.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is the capital city of West Bengal, a neighboring state of Odisha. It is a major cultural and economic hub in eastern India.
IMD -: IMD stands for India Meteorological Department. It is the government agency responsible for weather forecasting and monitoring cyclones in India.
Evacuations -: Evacuations mean moving people from dangerous areas to safer places. This is done to protect them from harm during events like cyclones.
5.84 lakh -: 5.84 lakh means 584,000. In India, ‘lakh’ is a term used to denote 100,000. It shows the large number of people evacuated for safety.