Bhubaneswar/Kolkata: A well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Tuesday as it moved towards the eastern coast, with the potential to develop into a severe cyclonic storm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). 

IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra stated that Odisha is likely to bear the brunt of the forthcoming cyclone. The latest bulletin from the IMD reported that the well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal had concentrated into a depression, located approximately 700 km from Paradip in Odisha and 750 km from Sagar Island in West Bengal as of 8.30 am.

The depression is expected to further intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 and will cross the northern Odisha and southern West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25, reaching wind speeds of 100-110 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h, the bulletin indicated.

The state government has requested an additional 10 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari mentioned that existing NDRF teams are already mobilising towards the districts likely to be affected.

In addition, 17 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams will be deployed across 10 districts expected to be impacted by Cyclone Dana, according to Additional Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Padmanav Behera. Three additional ODRAF teams will remain on standby.

The IMD has advised fishermen against venturing into the sea from October 23 to 25, warning that wind speeds along and off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts could reach 60 km/h, with a gradual increase thereafter. The storm is predicted to bring very heavy rainfall to southern West Bengal districts on October 24 and 25, with heavy to extremely heavy downpours expected in South 24 Parganas, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur and Jhargram.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also anticipated in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Purulia and Bankura districts between October 24 and 25. According to the IMD, a deep depression represents a more intense stage of a low-pressure system and typically precedes the formation of a cyclonic storm.

IMD DG Mrutunjay Mohapatra informed a local news channel that the entire eastern coast, from Puri to the West Bengal coast, is likely to be affected by the impending cyclone, with north Odisha districts expected to experience greater impacts than other regions. The exact landfall location of the cyclone will be determined later.

In preparation for the cyclone, the Odisha government has cancelled all staff leaves from October 23 to 25. 

Special Relief Commissioner D K Singh has asked the School and Mass Education Department to close schools in 14 districts likely to be affected from October 23 to 25 as a precautionary measure.
 

Agencies