Cyclone Dana Hits Odisha: Restoration Efforts Underway in Bhadrak
In the early hours of Friday, Cyclone Dana made landfall on the Odisha coast, causing significant disruption. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been actively removing uprooted trees in Dhamara and surrounding villages. The coastal areas, including Dhamra and Bhadrak, experienced turbulent seas, strong winds, and heavy rainfall.
Evacuation and Safety Measures
Shantanu Mohanty, the Additional District Magistrate of Bhadrak, reported that vulnerable residents have been evacuated to cyclone shelters. Essential services like electricity have been restored, and teams from Fire Services, ODRF, and NDRF are on the ground. A red alert has been issued in Bhadrak due to expected heavy rain, and residents are advised to stay indoors.
Government Response
Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, along with other officials, assessed the situation at Rajiv Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Thanks to proactive measures, there have been no casualties, achieving the government’s ‘zero casualty’ target. Approximately 600,000 people, including 6,000 pregnant women, have been relocated to safer areas.
Impact on Transportation
Flight operations at Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport resumed at 8:00 AM on Friday after a temporary suspension. Similarly, flights at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport resumed. Bus services at Bhubaneswar’s Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal were disrupted, with passengers waiting for services to restart.
Weather Conditions
High tide waves were observed at Purba Medinipur and Old Digha Beach, while light rain affected parts of Howrah city. The weather department predicts that Cyclone Dana will weaken into a cyclonic storm by the afternoon.
Doubts Revealed
Cyclone Dana -: Cyclone Dana is a powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain that hit the state of Odisha in India. Cyclones are like giant spinning storms that can cause a lot of damage.
Odisha -: Odisha is a state located on the eastern coast of India. It is known for its rich culture, temples, and beautiful beaches.
Bhadrak -: Bhadrak is a district in the state of Odisha, India. It is one of the areas affected by Cyclone Dana.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force. It is a special team in India that helps people during natural disasters like cyclones, floods, and earthquakes.
Zero casualty target -: A ‘zero casualty’ target means that the government aimed to ensure that no one died because of the cyclone. It shows their efforts to keep everyone safe.
Bhubaneswar -: Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha, India. It is an important city and was affected by the cyclone, causing disruptions in transport.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a major city in the state of West Bengal, India. It is located near Odisha and was also affected by the cyclone, leading to temporary flight suspensions.