In a major emergency response, over 1.1 million people on India’s eastern coast are being evacuated to inland storm shelters as Cyclone Dana is expected to hit the region as a “severe cyclonic storm” on Thursday.
The powerful storm is predicted to batter the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha states, home to around 150 million people, with winds gusting up to 120 kilometers per hour.
Major airports, including the key travel hub of Kolkata, will be shut overnight due to the heavy rain and high winds forecast.
Authorities in Odisha state have evacuated nearly a million people from the coastal areas, while in neighboring West Bengal, over 100,000 have been moved to safer locations. Businesses in popular beach resorts have been ordered to close, and tourists have been asked to leave.
While the cyclone’s main impact is expected to be in India, neighboring low-lying Bangladesh is also on high alert, with the government closely monitoring the storm’s progress.
However, no evacuation orders have been issued yet, as the worst of the cyclone is predicted to hit the Indian coast.
Cyclones are a regular threat in the northern Indian Ocean region, and scientists warn that these storms are becoming more powerful due to climate change.
The warmer ocean temperatures and increased moisture in the atmosphere provide additional energy to strengthen the winds and rainfall associated with these weather events.
Despite the severity of the cyclone, improved forecasting and evacuation planning have helped reduce the loss of life in recent years.
Authorities in India and Bangladesh are taking extensive precautions to protect their coastal communities from the impending storm.
Cyclone Dana is not expected to pose a threat to Pakistan. However, the coastal district of Satkhira in Bangladesh has been experiencing intermittent rainfall since early today. As the cyclone moves toward India’s Odisha and West Bengal states, it is likely to have a limited impact on Satkhira, although strong winds are anticipated.
Cyclone Dana is not expected to pose a threat to Pakistan. However, the coastal district of Satkhira in Bangladesh has been experiencing intermittent rainfall since early today. As the cyclone moves toward India’s Odisha and West Bengal states, it is likely to have a limited impact on Satkhira, although strong winds are anticipated.
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