National Disaster Response Force personnel stand guard a beach near Digha, India on October 24, 2024, ahead of cyclone Dana’s landfall.
Heavy rain and high winds lashed parts of eastern India on Friday as a tropical storm hit coastal areas and rescue teams braced for its impact.
Tropical Cyclone Dana made landfall along the northern coast of Odisha state as the equivalent of a tropical storm in the Atlantic basin with winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The storm was located about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Kolkata, moving north-northwest at 12 kph (8 mph), as of 9 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. ET).
Dana brought rainfall between 50-150 millimeters (2-6 inches) across Odisha and West Bengal state, with the highest total of 160 mm (6.2 inches) reported in the town of Chandbali. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Fishing trawlers are seen parked at a beach near the Bay of Bengal in Digha, India, ahead of cyclone Dana’s landfall, on October 24, 2024.
Ahead of Cyclone Dana’s landfall, authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of residents, shut down schools, and canceled trains and flights in affected regions. The India Meteorological Department (India MET) issued its highest red alert for rainfall in parts of Odisha and West Bengal.
Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, informed the Press Trust of India that approximately 300,000 people had already been evacuated from vulnerable areas, with three districts expected to face severe impacts.
Authorities plan to evacuate over 1 million people across 14 districts. Several teams of aid and rescue workers have been deployed to the region, which frequently faces devastating cyclones and storms.
“The government is fully prepared to tackle the situation. You are in safe hands,” Majhi assured.
India’s eastern coasts have historically been vulnerable to cyclones, but the frequency of intense storms has been rising along the country’s coastline. Last year marked India’s deadliest cyclone season in recent memory, with 523 lives lost and an estimated $2.5 billion in damages.
Cyclone Dana is expected to weaken as it moves westward through Odisha, bringing moderate to isolated heavy rainfall along its path throughout the weekend.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
