Cyclone Dana, which had been causing significant concern in Odisha and West Bengal, has made landfall, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The cyclone hit the coast between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra in Odisha shortly after midnight on Thursday. During landfall, intense winds reaching up to 120 km/h were reported in Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts, causing trees to be uprooted in several areas. The IMD has predicted that the cyclone will weaken by Friday morning.
In response to the cyclone, both Odisha and West Bengal have been experiencing heavy rainfall. Authorities in both states implemented precautionary measures in advance, resulting in the cancellation of over 400 trains. Additionally, operations at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports were suspended from Thursday evening and will remain closed until 9 PM on Friday. Millions of residents from coastal regions were evacuated to safer locations. Educational institutions in both states have declared holidays due to the severe weather conditions. Cyclone Dana had initially formed in the northwestern Bay of Bengal.
